PM Modi to meet Macron to launch ‘India-France Year of Innovation’, discuss strategic cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday meet French President Emmanuel Macron to launch the ‘India-France Year of Innovation’ and discuss strategic cooperation that’s expected to be focussed on artificial intelligence (AI) and technology partnership, defence collaboration, and the Indo-Pacific.

Macron is on a three-day visit to India on February 17-19. He will hold talks with Modi and engage with business leaders, researchers, and innovators from India and France in Mumbai and attend the AI Impact Summit on Thursday.

This is Macron’s fourth visit to India and follows the visit in 2024 when he attended the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.

Last year, Modi and Macron had co-chaired the AI Action Summit in France in which they were joined by participants from more than 100 countries, including government leaders, to develop an open, multi-stakeholder, and inclusive approach that will enable AI to be human rights based, human-centric, ethically, safe, secure, and trustworthy technology that narrows the inequalities and assist developing countries in AI capacity-building so they can build AI capacities.

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For decades, France has been among India’s closest partners and the two countries have mutual interests in defence and foreign affairs. The two countries are also committed to multilateralism, strategic autonomy, and reform of the United Nations (UN).

As US President Donald Trump has disrupted the world in his second term, the two countries have moved further closer.

On Thursday, Modi and Macron will meet at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai, at 3:15 pm and review the progress made in the India-France Strategic Partnership, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Monday.

“Their discussions will focus on cementing the strategic partnership and further diversifying it into new and emerging areas. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance,” the PMO further said.

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Later in the day, Modi and Macron will inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation and address a gathering of business leaders, start-ups, researchers, and other innovators from India and France, the statement read.

Macron’s visit to comes days after the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) approved the proposal to buy French Rafale fighter planes.

Under the government-to-government deal, India is set to buy 114 Rafales, including 18 in flyaway condition and the rest to be made in India. The deal would raise India’s Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft as 36 Rafales are currently in service with the Air Force and 26 naval versions have been ordered for the Navy.

The visit also comes weeks after India and the European Union (EU) signed a trade deal. Firstpost’s Madhur Sharma had reported that France and Germany emerged as the champions of the India-EU trade deal within the bloc and worked behind the scenes to rally support not only for the EU’s increased trade and economic engagement with India but also for ramping up security and strategic ties.