Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nice on Saturday, beginning a key diplomatic tour of France and Slovakia that will focus on strategic cooperation, innovation, technology partnerships and global issues.
The visit to France, being undertaken at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, will see the two leaders hold bilateral talks and jointly inaugurate the ‘Bharat Innovates’ event in Nice on June 14.
In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Prime Minister’s visit would include engagements in Nice, Evian and Paris before he travels to Slovakia.
“Strengthening partnerships, advancing progress. PM Narendra Modi has departed for the two-nation visit to France and Slovakia. During the visit, PM will engage with the leadership of both countries. PM will inaugurate ‘Bharat Innovates’ event at Nice, participate in the G7 Summit at Evian and attend VivaTech event in Paris,” Jaiswal said.
The spokesperson also noted that the Slovakia visit would be the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the country’s independence in 1993.
In his departure statement, Prime Minister Modi described France as a key pillar of India’s strategic vision and said his discussions with President Macron would focus on reviewing progress made since the elevation of bilateral ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year.
“Earlier this year, President Macron visited India, and we elevated our relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. When I meet President Macron in Nice, we will review the progress made since February and chart the next steps in our cooperation. I look forward to our discussions on pressing global issues of mutual interest as well,” the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting the significance of the Bharat Innovates initiative, Modi said the event would connect India’s leading start-ups with global investors and accelerate innovation emerging from India’s higher education ecosystem.
“This landmark event, being held against the backdrop of the India-France Year of Innovation, will connect India’s most promising start-ups with global investment and serve as a major accelerator for innovations emerging from India’s higher education ecosystem,” he said.
Following the France engagements in Nice, the Prime Minister will undertake a State Visit to Slovakia from June 14 to 15. During the visit, he will hold talks with Peter Pellegrini and Robert Fico, besides interacting with Slovak business leaders.
Calling it a historic visit, Modi said it would build on the growing momentum in bilateral ties and further strengthen India’s engagement with Slovakia and the broader European Union.
“Building on the momentum of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, the visit will further energise our Strategic Partnership with the European Union, of which Slovakia is an important and valued member,” he said.
The Prime Minister will then travel to Evian to participate in the G7 Summit on June 16 and 17. Noting that this will be the eighth consecutive G7 Summit to which India has been invited, Modi said India’s participation reflects the trust placed in the country by its international partners.
“At the G7, India will not only speak for itself, but it will also give voice to the aspirations of the Global South,” he said.
The final leg of the visit will take the Prime Minister to Paris on June 18, where he will attend the VivaTech 2026 technology summit alongside President Macron. India is set to have the largest national pavilion at the event, showcasing the country’s growing role in innovation, digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
(inputs from ANI)
