Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the India-France partnership is gaining renewed momentum across technology, innovation and strategic sectors under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
In a post on X, Goyal said he attended a dinner hosted by noted jurist and IIT Delhi Board Chairperson Harish Salve, where he interacted with industry leaders from India and France, as well as members of academia, researchers and innovators.
The minister said bilateral cooperation has expanded significantly in recent years, covering strategic, economic, technological and innovation-driven sectors.
He also invited French businesses and investors to participate in India’s growth story, calling for greater collaboration to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for both countries.
As part of his visit to France, Goyal toured Sophia Antipolis, Europe’s largest science and technology hub, to strengthen India’s engagement with European deep-tech ecosystems.
Describing Sophia Antipolis as “Europe’s Silicon Valley”, Goyal said the technology park demonstrates how research, talent and enterprise can come together to drive innovation and economic growth. The hub is home to more than 2,600 companies operating across a range of advanced technology sectors.
The minister said India is steadily emerging as a global hub for innovation and manufacturing and encouraged industry leaders to explore opportunities for investment, collaboration and expansion in the country.
He noted that India’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem is creating new avenues for technology partnerships and co-development initiatives that could benefit both India and France, as well as the wider global community.
During his visit to Nice, Goyal also met leaders from government, business, innovation and investment sectors to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in technology and innovation.
Highlighting India’s innovation capabilities, the minister noted that Nice is hosting Bharat Innovates 2026 at the Palais des Expositions. The event showcases India’s deep-tech ecosystem through the participation of 120 startups and more than 20 Institutes of Excellence spanning 13 technology domains.
According to Goyal, the event has attracted over 350 global investors and venture capitalists, underscoring growing international interest in India’s expanding startup and innovation landscape.
(With inputs from IANS)
