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Macron Praises India's Digital Revolution as Global Benchmark at AI Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron praised India's digital public infrastructure as an unmatched global benchmark during his address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. He highlighted the profound social impact, citing financial inclusion for street vendors and the scale of the India Stack. Macron emphasized that the summit marks the beginning of a huge technological acceleration, reinforcing the strong bilateral partnership. The event focuses on multilateral collaboration under the pillars of People, Planet, and Progress.

Key Points: Macron Lauds India's Digital ID, Payments at AI Summit

  • Macron lauds India's digital transformation
  • Highlights India Stack's global uniqueness
  • Notes 20 billion monthly digital transactions
  • Emphasizes strong India-France tech partnership
2 min read

Macron lauds India's digital transformation, pioneering role in technology governance at AI Impact Summit

French President Emmanuel Macron highlights India's digital transformation, including its digital identity for 1.4 billion, as a global model at the AI Impact Summit.

"India built something that no other country in the world has built. A digital identity for 1.4 billion people. - Emmanuel Macron"

New Delhi, February 19

French President Emmanuel Macron lauded India's digital transformation and its pioneering role in technology governance during his address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 today, describing the nation's progress as a global benchmark.

Speaking at the summit, President Macron began by expressing his gratitude for the warm reception in India. "Namaste. Thank you very much for welcoming us to this magnificent city, in this magnificent country. It's great to be back after my 2024 state visit for this Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit hosted by you, Prime Minister," he said.

The French President highlighted the profound social impact of India's technological strides over the last decade. "10 years ago, a street vendor in Mumbai could not open a bank account. No address, no papers, no access and today the same vendor accepts payments on his phone," he remarked, illustrating the scale of financial inclusion achieved through digital means.

President Macron further emphasised that India has set a unique precedent that remains unmatched globally. "India built something that no other country in the world has built. A digital identity for 1.4 billion people. A payment system that now processes 20 billion transactions every month. A health infrastructure that has issued 500 million digital health IDs. Here are the results. They call it the India Stack Open Interoperable Sovereign," he noted.

He also stated that the current era marks the beginning of a rapid technological shift. "That is what this summit is about. We are clearly at the beginning of a huge acceleration, and you perfectly described it during your interventions," Macron added, acknowledging the Prime Minister's vision for the future of AI.

The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, continues to serve as a platform for global leaders to discuss the responsible and sovereign application of artificial intelligence, with President Macron's address reinforcing the strong bilateral and technological partnership between India and France.

Reflecting India's focus on multilateral collaboration, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 brings together nations and international institutions to address global challenges and unlock new opportunities for shared growth.

India is hosting the event from February 16 to 20, anchoring the deliberations in three foundational pillars, or 'Sutras': People, Planet, and Progress.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's heartening to see the real impact. My mother in our village now uses her phone for everything - banking, doctor appointments, pension. The digital inclusion story Macron mentioned is not just data, it's changing lives on the ground. More power to this vision!
R
Rohit P
While the achievements are stellar, we must ensure this progress is equitable. Not everyone in rural areas has the same access or digital literacy. The summit's focus on 'People' is crucial - we need to bridge the last-mile gap and not leave anyone behind in this acceleration.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in tech between Bengaluru and Paris, this partnership is exciting. France and India collaborating on AI governance can set a powerful, balanced global standard. The 'Sovereign' in India Stack is key - nations need control over their digital destiny.
K
Karthik V
20 billion UPI transactions a month! That number alone tells the story. We've moved from a cash-heavy economy to a digital leader. Now with AI, the potential is limitless. Hope the focus on 'Planet' means green tech and sustainable computing get a major push.
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Michael C
The scale of India's digital public infrastructure is mind-boggling. Building for 1.4 billion users creates solutions that are robust by default. The world has a lot to learn from this model. The 'Open Interoperable' part is genius - it fosters innovation on top of a solid base.

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