Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to establish a high-level mechanism aimed at doubling trade between India and France within five years. They have also exchanged concrete ideas to enhance and diversify bilateral relations in areas such as economic growth, technology, and talent mobility. The leaders emphasized the early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement to expand trade and investment, along with discussing cooperation in sectors like SME, aviation, and railways.
Both leaders welcomed the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics in Kanpur and the initiation of a Dialogue on Economic Security to strengthen supply chain resilience, particularly in critical minerals. They also explored opportunities for private sector collaboration in space, leveraging India’s SHANTI Act for potential collaboration on small and advanced modular reactors. Recognizing the significance of innovation and technology, they adopted an “Innovation Roadmap 2030” to provide a long-term direction to their partnership, focusing on expanding cooperation in Artificial Intelligence through a Joint India-France AI Working Group.
The joint inauguration of Bharat Innovates in Nice and Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming participation at Vivatech in Paris have further solidified the collaboration between the two countries in various sectors like deep-tech, semiconductors, agri-tech, med-tech, renewable energy, defense, and space. The leaders highlighted the growing presence of UPI in France and the signing of 19 agreements among institutions in the innovation ecosystems of both nations. They stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties, with PM Modi expressing gratitude to President Macron for facilitating visa-free transit for Indian nationals at French airports.
In addition, they explored ways to enhance talent and student mobility between India and France, as well as expanding mutual recognition of educational qualifications. PM Modi extended an invitation to French universities to establish campuses in India under the New Education Policy. The leaders also agreed to boost cooperation among museums and cultural institutions, including the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal.
