Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets French President Emmanuel Macron, in Nice on Sunday (June 14, 2026). Photo: X@narendramodi via ANI
India and France adopted an ‘Innovation Roadmap 2030’ and established a Dialogue on Economic Security during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held in Nice on Sunday (June 14, 2026) afternoon during Mr. Modi’s visit to the Bharat Innovates technology conference.A press release from the government outlined a number of themes – including calling for the fast adoption of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Earlier this year, the two countries had renamed their partnership a ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’ to reflect an enhanced level of cooperation. No traditional ‘joint statement’ had emerged from the meeting as of this writing.“Recognising the key role of innovation and technology in the bilateral relationship, both sides adopted an ‘Innovation Roadmap 2030’ to give the partnership a long-term direction,” the press release said, with the two leaders agreeing to create a Joint India-France AI Working Group to expand cooperation in AI. They also noted the signing of 19 agreements between entities in the innovation ecosystems of the two countries.Calling for the early implementation of the India-EU FTA, which was signed in February this year, the two sides agreed to set up a High-Level Mechanism to double trade in five years. The discussion also focused on cooperation in the SME, rail, and aviation sectors.Mr. Modi and Mr. Macron agreed to strengthen supply chain resilience, particularly in critical minerals, as part of the ‘Dialogue on Economic Security’, as per the press release.On the major crises in the world – in West Asia, including Iran and Gaza, as well as on Ukraine – the press release remained circumspect relative to the February 17, 2026 joint statement from the two countries, saying only that leaders exchanged views “on matters of global importance, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine”.The Prime Minister thanked Mr. Macron for the speedy implementation of visa-free transit for Indians in French airports and invited French universities to open campuses in India under the New Education Policy, as per the government statement.The two leaders discussed private sector collaboration in the space sector and the SHANTI Act’s ( legislation governing the nuclear sector) implications in India.“I think the field is open for French nuclear companies in this case to start looking at direct participation in the Indian nuclear sector, or do so with in participation with Indian private sector companies, whether in conventional nuclear power reactors or in the more advanced small modular reactors,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a press briefing in Nice.Mr. Misri also confirmed that discussions between French power giant EDF and the Nuclear Power Cooperation of India Limited for the Jaitapur nuclear power plant – with six reactor units – were still on-going. The project has been under discussion for more than 15 years. Following the bilateral discussions, Mr. Modi departed France for Vienna from where he travelled to Bratislava, Slovakia, for the second leg of his Europe visit. Published - June 15, 2026 12:48 am IST
