Seeks Deeper Tech and Investment Partnerships with France
AMN / WEB DESK
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday positioned India as a fast-emerging global centre for technology, innovation and digital-led growth, outlining the country’s transformation agenda and calling for stronger international collaboration in building inclusive and scalable technological solutions.
Addressing the VivaTech 2026 Summit in Paris, the Prime Minister highlighted how India’s development strategy over the past decade has increasingly been driven by digital infrastructure and technology-led delivery models across key sectors of the economy.
Emphasising execution over experimentation, Mr Modi said India has deployed technology at scale to expand financial inclusion, strengthen public service delivery and improve access to essential sectors including education, healthcare, telemedicine and agriculture.
He noted that India has built the world’s largest digital identity ecosystem and developed one of the most extensive digital public infrastructure networks globally. Referring to India’s digital payments success, the Prime Minister said the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) now facilitates nearly half of the world’s real-time digital transactions and has already expanded into international markets, including France.
Highlighting India’s broader policy approach, Mr Modi said technological advancement can generate meaningful economic and social outcomes only when innovation becomes accessible to larger populations.
“Technology must deliver for all,” he said, adding that India’s model is focused on democratising access and ensuring that innovation creates broad-based opportunities rather than concentrated benefits.
The Prime Minister used the global platform to invite entrepreneurs, technology companies and investors to deepen engagement with India’s expanding innovation ecosystem and participate in developing solutions with worldwide relevance.
Beyond the summit, the visit also carried a strong business and investment agenda.
Prime Minister Modi held separate interactions with senior French business leaders aimed at strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and accelerating partnerships across manufacturing, artificial intelligence, logistics and sustainability-focused sectors.
During discussions with industry executives, leading French companies expressed confidence in India’s medium- and long-term growth outlook and outlined plans to expand their engagement with the Indian market.
Executives from Saint-Gobain, Mistral AI, and CMA CGM indicated interest in increasing investments and collaboration opportunities in strategic sectors including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence deployment and green shipping solutions.
The discussions reflected growing momentum in India–France commercial ties as both countries seek to expand cooperation beyond traditional sectors into emerging technology and industrial ecosystems.
Observers noted that India’s message at VivaTech combined three operational priorities—digital infrastructure expansion, global investment attraction and technology partnerships—to position the country as both a large-scale innovation market and a development platform for international businesses.
Following the business engagements, Prime Minister Modi attended the “Bonjour Modi” cultural programme organised by the Indian community at the Salle Pleyel Centre in Paris, marking the community outreach segment of the visit.
The Paris engagements are being viewed as part of India’s broader effort to attract global capital, strengthen strategic technology alliances and reinforce its position in next-generation industries. With Inputs from prasar Bharati