Macron shares 'nice' selfie with PM Modi as India, France agree to double trade
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held extensive bilateral talks at the historic Villa Krylos in Nice on Sunday as part of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held extensive bilateral talks at the historic Villa Krylos in Nice on Sunday as part of the PM’s 7th official visit. The meeting started on a lighter note, as right before the discussion, Macron clicked a selfie and posted it on his X account with the caption, ‘nice.’ The discussions culminated in the adoption of a forward-looking ‘Innovation Roadmap 2030,’ designed to provide a long-term blueprint for technological and economic collaboration. Amid a packed diplomatic agenda, both nations committed to an ambitious high-level mechanism aimed at doubling bilateral trade within the next five years, while urgently calling for the early implementation of the wider India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Read Full Story To catch all the developments, please follow our live blog The high-profile talks marked the first time the two leaders have met since India and France officially elevated their relationship to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' earlier this year.
EXPANDING DEFENCE, SPACE, NUCLEAR TIES Defence cooperation remained one of the central pillars of the dialogue. Moving beyond traditional buyer-seller dynamics, Modi and Macron agreed to intensify collaboration with an explicit focus on the co-design, co-development, and co-production of advanced defence platforms and cutting-edge military technologies. The legacy of Indo-French space cooperation is also set for an upgrade. The leaders discussed expanding private-sector partnerships and driving forward joint initiatives in human spaceflight and space situational awareness. On the civil nuclear front, the leaders noted that India’s recent SHANTI Act has unlocked fresh avenues for partnership, particularly in the development of small and advanced modular reactors. DRIVING TECH AND INNOVATION A major highlight of the visit was the joint inauguration of the Bharat Innovates initiative in Nice. The launch, paired with Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming participation at the VivaTech summit in Paris, signals a massive push to connect India's brightest tech minds with substantial European investment. The collaborative push focuses heavily on deep-tech, semiconductors, agri-tech, med-tech, and renewable energy.
Furthermore, a new Joint India-France AI Working Group will be established to govern mutual breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence. The leaders also welcomed the steady expansion of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across France, alongside the signing of 19 new agreements linking the innovation ecosystems of both nations. SUPPLY CHAIN AND SKILLING INITIATIVES Addressing modern economic vulnerabilities, the leaders welcomed the newly established Dialogue on Economic Security, pledging to fortify global supply chain resilience—with a particular focus on securing critical minerals. In a boost for India's domestic aviation ecosystem, the leaders welcomed an agreement to set up a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics in Kanpur. Broader cooperation frameworks were also outlined for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), aviation, and railway sectors. PEOPLE, CULTURE, AND EDUCATION To foster closer societal ties, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to French universities to set up offshore campuses in India under the New Education Policy. He also thanked President Macron for the swift operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals at French airports, a move expected to significantly ease international travel.
The BriefWire