VOI World/ Desk
India and France have agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, technology, defence and civil nuclear energy, with both countries setting an ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade within the next five years.
The announcement came after talks between Indian PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Nice, where the two leaders reviewed their strategic partnership and unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening economic and technological ties.
The India-France trade and technology partnership was a key focus of the discussions. Both sides agreed to adopt an innovation roadmap for critical and emerging technologies, launch an economic security dialogue, expand cooperation on artificial intelligence governance and enhance collaboration in advanced sectors including defence manufacturing and nuclear energy.
Speaking at the Bharat Innovates 2026 event, PM Modi said India is no longer just a consumer of global solutions but is increasingly contributing solutions to the world. He emphasised the need for technologies that are human-centric, inclusive and focused on addressing global challenges. The Prime Minister highlighted opportunities in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, space technology and advanced materials as key drivers of future growth.
Macron praised India’s innovation ecosystem and described the country as a global centre for innovation. He also expressed support for expanding cooperation in areas such as AI, climate technology and civil nuclear energy, including discussions around small modular reactors.
The India-France trade and technology partnership is also expected to boost investment flows between the two countries. Officials said Bharat Innovates 2026 brought together more than 120 deep-tech startups, investors and technology leaders, helping showcase India’s growing capabilities in advanced innovation.
In addition to economic cooperation, the two leaders discussed global security issues, including developments in West Asia and Ukraine, while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties, student mobility and talent exchanges.
The agreements underline the growing importance of the India-France strategic partnership as both countries seek closer collaboration in emerging technologies and future industries.
