India does not just participate in global innovation; India leads it: Macron at India–France Innovation Forum

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the India–France Innovation Forum. Macron said, "First of all, Mr Prime Minister, thank you very much for travelling from Delhi to welcome me and my delegation here in Mumbai and for being present for this session. Your presence today means a lot and reflects the long-standing friendship between our two countries and our personal friendship. Mumbai, the city of dreams, a city in perpetual motion and reaching towards the future, is the perfect place to launch what we are inaugurating today, the India–France Year of Innovation."

At the India–France Innovation Forum, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "The CEO of Alphabet is Indian. The CEO of Microsoft is Indian. The CEO of IBM is Indian. The CEO of Adobe is Indian. The CEO of Palo Alto Networks is Indian. The CEO of Chanel is from Kolhapur, right here in this state. India does not just participate in global innovation; India leads it..."

"After the talks and press statements at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, President Macron and I are on the way to the other programmes, which include the India-France Innovation Forum," PM Modi said as he shared the pic with French President Macron.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the India–France Innovation Forum. 

"The year 2026 is a turning point in India–Europe ties. Just a few days ago, we signed the most ambitious FTA in India’s history with the European Union. This partnership between the two sides will prove to be a force for global stability amid global uncertainty," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

We will continue to work in fighting terrorism, said French President Macron after talks with PM Modi.

From Rafale jets to submarines, we are expanding defence cooperation, said French President Macron after talks with PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today, the inauguration of the helicopter assembly line in India is another shining example of this deep trust. We are proud that India and France together will manufacture in India the world’s only helicopter capable of flying to the heights of Mount Everest. And this will also be exported across the world. That means the India–France partnership has no boundaries. It can reach from the deep oceans to the tallest mountains.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said, "I thank you for your warm welcome on my fourth official visit to India. The bilateral relationship between India and France is truly remarkable and unique. This relationship is one of trust, openness, and ambition. We have also decided today to elevate this partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership, granting it a new status. There is no doubt about that, because we have complete faith in this relationship, and we have been doing so for the past eight years. Each year, by working on different things, we have charted many new paths. For example, whether it's the Indo-Pacific region or technology,  where there's no hegemony. We firmly believe in the rule of law, and we've demonstrated this over the past few years. Whether it's IMEC, which we jointly launched and or whether we're talking about artificial intelligence or the International Solar Alliance, we've taken several initiatives together over the past eight years..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today we are strengthening our cooperation in critical minerals, biotechnology, and advanced materials. We are launching the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, the Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and the National Centre of Alliance for Skilling in Aeronautics. These are not just institutes; they are future-building platforms. Friends, the world is facing a period of uncertainty. In this environment, the India-France partnership is a force for global stability. We are combining France's expertise and India's scale. We are developing trusted technologies. We will ensure human development through the International Solar Alliance, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and joint development projects, and will continue to strengthen efforts for stability and prosperity through multilateralism, dialogue, and diplomacy."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "With the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation, we are transforming our strategic partnership into a Partnership of the People. Because innovation doesn't happen in isolation, but through collaboration. Therefore, our goal during the India-France Year of Innovation is to strengthen people-to-people connections. Whether it's defence, clean energy, space, or emerging technologies, we will connect our industries and innovators in every field. We will build strong networks between startups and MSMEs. We will facilitate exchanges between our students and researchers, and we will also establish new centres for joint innovation."

India-France relations are very special, said PM Modi after talks with French President Macron in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I am delighted to welcome my dear friend, President Macron, to Mumbai. Last year, he invited me to the AI ​​Action Committee Summit in France. At that time, we visited Marseille, France's largest port and a major gateway to France and all of Europe. Marseille is the city from where our Indian soldiers set foot in Europe during World War I. Their saga of bravery is still remembered in many parts of Europe, and it is the same city where freedom fighter Veer Savarkar jumped into the sea to escape the British. His action symbolised his unwavering resolve for India's independence. I had the opportunity to remember and pay my respects to him in Marseille last year. This time, when President Macron is in India for the AI ​​Impact Summit, we are fortunate to welcome him in Mumbai, the gateway to India."

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held joint press conference. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurate the H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly of Tata Airbus at Vemagal, Karnataka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets personalities from the arts and culture world, including Bollywood personalities Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Zoya Akhtar, Richa Chadha and Grammy-winning music composer Ricky Kej, during his ongoing visit to Mumbai. 

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the photo with French President Emmanuel Macron and worte, "It’s a delight to meet my friend, President Macron in Mumbai! He told me he really likes the city and also enjoyed his run earlier in the day! "

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron share a hug as they meet at the Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai.

During his ongoing visit to India, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "At the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, we paid tribute to the victims of the 2008 attacks. To their families and loved ones, and to India: France stands with you. In the face of terrorism, unity and determination."

"The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has arrived in the city of Mumbai. He arrived yesterday late in the evening. There are two aspects to his visit to India this time. One,  he will be holding volatile talks with Prime Minister Modi later this afternoon here in Mumbai, and thereafter, he travels to Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"There's so much that is happening between India and France, two strategic partners in the fields of digital technology, the fields of innovation, student mobility, culture, defence, security,  green pathways, and a lot more.  All these issues will come up for discussion when the two leaders meet this afternoon. Thereafter, we'll have the celebration of India-France collaboration in the field of innovation. There are several programs to celebrate this beautiful partnership, and of course, we have a colourful delight awaiting you at the Gateway of India," he added.

Ahead of his arrival in Mumbai, French President Emmanuel Macron said that business leaders and key figures from the economic, industrial, cultural and digital sectors were accompanying him to strengthen ties between the two countries.

In his message, Macron expressed confidence that both sides would take cooperation even further and referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “my dear friend”, underlining the warmth in the India–France partnership.

Around a dozen MoUs, defence ties in the wake of the new Rafale deal, and trade talks, besides discussions on a range of sector will take centre stage as Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai today. The two leaders are set to review progress in the India-France strategic partnership and chart the course for future cooperation. Read more

Prime Minister Modi and President Macron are expected to discuss global economic uncertainty linked to tariff policies under US President Donald Trump, along with China’s growing regional influence, according to reports.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the talks will focus on consolidating the strategic partnership and expanding cooperation into new areas. Bilateral trade between India and France stands at around 18 billion dollars annually, with strong ties in defence and aerospace. French investment in India is estimated at nearly 15 billion dollars.

The French President stepped out of his hotel without interacting with the media and went for a run along Mumbai’s iconic Marine Drive. His morning jog drew attention from walkers and was closely monitored by security personnel.

French President Emmanuel Macron left the Taj Mahal Palace under tight security on Tuesday morning. He is in Mumbai ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders are scheduled to review progress in the India-France strategic partnership.