Mumbai: India and France on Tuesday elevated their bilateral relationship to a “special global strategic partnership” following wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Addressing a joint press statement in Mumbai, Modi said the upgraded partnership reflected deep mutual trust and would serve as a force for “global stability and global progress” amid growing international uncertainty. The visit also produced an official list of outcomes outlining new institutional collaborations and economic agreements.
The two countries jointly launched the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 to deepen collaboration among start-ups, industries, students and researchers. Modi described the initiative as a step toward transforming bilateral ties into a “partnership of the people.”
As part of the expanded cooperation framework, the two sides agreed to establish an Indo-French Centre for AI in Health, an Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology, and a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics. They also committed to enhanced collaboration in biotechnology, critical minerals and advanced materials.
Modi welcomed Macron’s participation in the AI Impact Summit and highlighted emerging technologies and trusted digital systems as key pillars of future engagement. Officials said the initiatives would promote academic mobility, joint research and stronger industry partnerships.
An agreement to prevent double taxation was also signed to facilitate investment flows and business mobility. Modi noted that India’s recently concluded free trade agreement with the European Union would provide fresh momentum to economic ties with France.
Industrial cooperation featured prominently, including the inauguration of a helicopter assembly line in India for the production of a high-altitude helicopter intended for global export.
The leaders discussed expanding collaboration in critical minerals, clean energy transition and sustainable development, while emphasising improved market access and stronger industrial partnerships for long-term growth.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reaffirmed their commitment to working together in multilateral forums on climate action and global governance reforms.
Cultural cooperation was another highlight. The two nations will collaborate on the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, and India announced plans to open a Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in France to strengthen people-to-people ties. Officials described the visit as part of the broader “Horizon 2047” roadmap guiding long-term cooperation in technology, innovation and cultural exchange.
Macron, on a three-day visit to India from February 17 to 19, began his Mumbai engagements with a morning jog along Marine Drive. Later, he and First Lady Brigitte Macron paid floral tributes to the victims of the 2008 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south Mumbai.
