Goyal Says India-France Partnership Opens New Opportunities for Innovation
New Delhi — Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Monday that India’s partnership with France continues to create new opportunities for co-innovation, technological advancement and solutions that can benefit both countries and the wider world.
Goyal made the remarks after completing what he described as a “productive day in Nice,” where he hosted a dinner attended by Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti, along with leaders from government, business, innovation and investment sectors.
“Against the backdrop of the India-France Year of Innovation, the evening provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and explore new avenues for collaboration across trade, technology, and emerging sectors,” Goyal posted on X.
The government said India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and France’s France 2030 plan provide strong areas of convergence for a future-focused innovation partnership. The two countries are adopting the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 as a framework to guide cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, trusted technology ecosystems, academic and research mobility, and projects aimed at delivering practical outcomes for people, the planet and shared prosperity.
India and France recognize innovation as a key driver of economic resilience, sustainable development, strategic autonomy, and technological and industrial sovereignty, according to an official statement.
Both sides said a stronger innovation partnership would help unlock the full potential of the two countries and contribute to solutions for global challenges.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Nice for Slovakia, concluding the first leg of his visit.
“After a fruitful visit to Nice, France, which resulted in several bilateral outcomes with strong focus on innovation and future tech, PM Narendra Modi has departed for Bratislava,” the Ministry of External Affairs said on X.
On Sunday, Modi held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and said the two countries had agreed to elevate ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.
“Today’s talks with my friend, President Macron, were exceptionally productive. Considering the longstanding friendship between our nations, we have decided to elevate our ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership,” Modi wrote on X.
“Our talks covered ways to deepen cooperation in key sectors like defence, technology, space, security, counter terrorism, innovation and more,” he added. (Source: IANS)
