PM Modi arrives in Nice, strengthening India's bonds of friendship with its key development partners
Nice, June 13
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Nice, France, on Saturday for his official State visit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.
"I have just landed in Nice. Beyond Nice, this visit to France includes programmes in Evian and Paris. It will be marked by bilateral and multilateral meetings, aimed at strengthening India's bonds of friendship with its key development partners," Prime Minister Modi said on X.
"I look forward to meeting President Macron tomorrow and being present at 'Bharat Innovates'," he added.
Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with French President Macron in Nice on June 14, during which the two leaders will review the full spectrum of their bilateral relationship.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders will also jointly inaugurate the 'Bharat Innovates' event, which will bring together leading startups and venture capital funds from India, France and several other countries.
"Being held during the 'India-France Year of Innovation', this signature event reinforces the vibrant innovation partnership that exists between the two countries," MEA had noted
The visit reflects the continued momentum of high-level exchanges between India and France. It aims to deepen relations across all areas of bilateral cooperation, with a focus on innovation, science and technology, economy, cultural and people-to-people ties.
Prime Minister Modi will hold the first bilateral summit with President Macron in Nice after the elevation of ties to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership".
At the invitation of President Macron, the Prime Minister will participate in the G7 Summit in Evian, France, on June 16-17.
According to the MEA, India's presence at the G7 reflects its standing as a leading voice of the Global South and a key partner in addressing shared global challenges.
Prime Minister Modi will visit Paris on June 18, where, alongside President Macron, he will attend the VivaTech Summit, Europe's largest technology and startup event.
The Vivatech Summit will host an Indian pavilion which will be the largest pavilion at the Summit this year.
"Prime Minister Modi's participation in both 'Bharat Innovates' and Vivatech Summit will spotlight India as a global hub for innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship, and is expected to catalyse new partnerships between Indian and European technology ecosystems," the MEA noted.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the diplomatic moves, I hope our leaders also focus on domestic issues like unemployment and inflation back home. But yes, global partnerships are important for India's growth.
The fact that India has the largest pavilion at VivaTech says a lot about our startup ecosystem. Modi's global outreach is putting India on the map as a tech powerhouse! 🚀
As someone who follows global affairs, this visit seems strategically important. India being invited to G7 as a voice of the Global South is a big deal. Hope it leads to concrete outcomes for developing nations.
Nice to see the 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' getting more substance. France has been a reliable partner for India in defence and space, and now innovation too. Well played, Modi ji! 👏
Impressive itinerary - Nice, Evian for G7, Paris for VivaTech. This is what effective diplomacy looks like. India is no longer just a passive player but setting the agenda on innovation and global challenges.
Honestly, I'm more excited about the startup collaborations than the diplomatic talks. Indian innovators need global exposure, and this 'Bharat Innovates' event could open doors for so many young entrepreneurs.
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