Mumbai: French President Emmanuel Macron is on a visit to India. He held a key meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. During their meeting, several key issues were discussed.
In addition, several initiatives were announced as part of efforts to strengthen India-France relations. The two countries discussed ways to move the country forward together. Macron will travel to New Delhi today to attend the AI Impact Summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the H125 helicopter assembly line in India on Tuesday. The two countries signed agreements in the following areas:
Political and diplomatic relations, technology and innovation, defense and security, critical and emerging technologies, including the defense sector, economy, startups, science and technology, health, renewable energy, and skill development.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Acharya Devvrat welcomed him and First Lady Brigitte Macron at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday night.
India on Thursday approved the purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France, one of its largest aircraft orders, ahead of Macron’s visit to the country. This approval was part of New Delhi’s ₹3.6 trillion defense spending package. List of key agreements between India and France
1. Elevation of India-France relations to the level of Special Global Strategic Partnership
2. Inauguration of annual Foreign Minister-level talks to regularly review the implementation of the enhanced partnership and the ‘Horizon 2047’ roadmap
3. Launch of the India-France Innovation Year
4. Launch of the India-France Innovation Network
5. Inauguration of the H125 helicopter manufacturing factory (assembly line) in Vemgal, Karnataka
6. Renewal of the old defense cooperation agreement between India and France
7. Joint venture between BEL and Safran to manufacture Hammer missiles in India
8. Indian and French military officers will share experiences
9. A joint group to develop new technologies
10. Joint Declaration on Mutual Cooperation in Critical Minerals and Metals
11. The Department of Science and Technology and the CNRS of France have established a research center in the field of advanced materials Mutual consent to establish
12. Amendment to the Protocol on the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between India and France
13. Signing of a Letter of Intent between T-Hub and Nord France for strategic cooperation in the startup ecosystem, innovation, and technology
14. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for Scientific Cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology and the CNRS
15. Joint Declaration of Intent to establish an Indo-French Centre for Digital Science and Technology
16. Launch of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New Delhi
17. Signing of a Letter of Intent between the DBT and the ANRS for collaboration in infectious diseases and global health research
18. Signing of an Agreement to establish an Indo-French Centre for Metabolic Health Sciences
19. Signing of a Letter of Intent to establish a National Centre of Excellence for Skill Development in Aeronautics
20. A major initiative towards clean energy, India and France advance a renewable energy cooperation agreement
21. The Department of Posts of India and the CNRS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in postal services. Letter of Intent Signed Between France’s ‘La Poste’
A Joint Declaration of Intent Announced for Cooperation in Critical Minerals
Indian Ambassador to France Sanjeev Kumar Singla stated that India and France have announced a Joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation in critical minerals. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the Indian Ambassador announced a Letter of Intent between the Indian Department of Science and Technology and the French institution CNRS to establish a Center on Advanced Materials.
Sanjeev Kumar Singla said, “We have decided to establish a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group on Critical and New Technologies, as well as a Joint Declaration of Intent for cooperation in critical minerals.
There is also a Letter of Intent to establish a Center on Advanced Materials between our Department of Science and Technology and the French institution CNRS, one of the largest scientific institutions in the world, which focuses exclusively on basic research. We have also signed an amendment to the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between the two countries. According to a joint statement between India and France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to enhance cooperation in the exploration, extraction, processing, and recycling technologies of critical minerals and rare earths, to build diverse, sustainable, responsible, and robust supply chains. The leaders recognized the important role of critical minerals in supporting the green and digital economy, new technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
The joint statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs stated that both sides welcomed the Joint Declaration of Intent on cooperation in the field of critical minerals between France and India. On Tuesday, PM Modi and Emmanuel Macron held bilateral talks in Mumbai on cooperation in the industrial, defense, clean energy, space, and emerging technology sectors.
PM Modi stated that the relationship between the two countries is for “global stability and progress.” The French President and PM Modi jointly inaugurated the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 at the Gateway of India in Mumbai. Macron is currently on his fourth visit to India. After concluding talks between the two countries in Mumbai, Macron will now travel to New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam.
