After concluding his engagements at the G7 Summit in Évian, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris for the final leg of his France visit, where the focus shifted from global diplomacy to technology, innovation, investment, and economic cooperation. The visit underscored the growing strategic partnership between India and France, with discussions ranging from artificial intelligence and railway modernization to manufacturing, sustainability, and startup collaboration.
Upon his arrival in the French capital, Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora. In a message shared on social media, he praised the Indian community in France for strengthening ties between the two countries and described the India-France partnership as vital for global progress.
A key highlight of the visit was Modi’s participation in VivaTech 2026, Europe’s largest technology and startup convention. India is participating as the event’s “AI Partner Country,” reflecting its growing prominence in the global technology ecosystem. The Prime Minister’s presence at the summit is aimed at showcasing India’s digital public infrastructure, startup ecosystem, and advancements in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. India has also set up the largest national pavilion at the event, highlighting the country’s innovation-driven growth story.
Beyond the technology summit, Modi held a series of high-level meetings with leading French business executives to encourage investment and deepen industrial cooperation.
Among the most significant meetings was his interaction with Martin Sion, Chief Executive Officer of Alstom. Discussions focused on mobility solutions and railway modernization. The Prime Minister highlighted Alstom’s substantial manufacturing presence and investments in India, which have contributed to job creation and the expansion of India’s railway sector.
Sion, in turn, shared the company’s plans for further investment and expansion in the country. Alstom has emerged as a key partner in India’s rail infrastructure transformation, particularly in metro rail systems and advanced rolling stock manufacturing.
Modi also met Benoit Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain. Their discussions centered on opportunities in the construction materials sector, sustainable manufacturing, and future investments in India. The Prime Minister acknowledged Saint-Gobain’s longstanding presence in India and its role in generating employment and supporting industrial growth. Bazin expressed confidence in India’s economic trajectory and outlined plans for further expansion of the company’s operations in the country.
The Prime Minister also met Arthur Mensch, whose company has become one of Europe’s leading artificial intelligence firms. Discussions explored opportunities for collaboration between French and Indian technology companies and India’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. The meeting reflected India’s efforts to position itself as a major player in the development and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
In another important engagement, Modi met Rodolphe Saadé, head of the global shipping and logistics giant CMA CGM Group. The discussions highlighted opportunities in maritime logistics, supply chains, and trade connectivity, sectors that are becoming increasingly important as India seeks to strengthen its role in global commerce.
The Paris visit came immediately after Modi’s participation in the G7 Summit, where he advocated stronger engagement with the Global South, responsible governance of artificial intelligence, and greater international cooperation. In Paris, those broader themes translated into concrete conversations on investment, technology partnerships, manufacturing, and innovation.
As India and France continue to deepen their strategic partnership, Modi’s Paris engagements highlighted the increasingly economic and technology-driven nature of bilateral ties. From railway modernization and sustainable manufacturing to artificial intelligence and logistics, the visit reinforced the shared ambition of both nations to expand cooperation in sectors that will shape the future global economy.
With France emerging as one of India’s key partners in Europe, the Paris leg of the Prime Minister’s visit demonstrated how diplomacy, technology, and business are becoming closely intertwined in the next phase of India-France relations.