Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday, June 14, 2026, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing visit to France, calling it a significant step toward giving India's innovation capacity global recognition. Choudhary highlighted PM Modi's meetings with leading global investors and venture capitalists in Nice, as well as the joint inauguration of the 'Bharat Innovates' programme alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Context

Posting on X, CM Choudhary described PM Modi's France visit as 'bharat ki navachar kshamata ko vaishvik pahchan dilane ki disha mein ek mahatvapurn kadam' — 'an important step toward giving India's innovation capacity global recognition.' He noted that Modi's engagement with top global investors and venture capitalists in Nice, and the joint launch of the Bharat Innovates programme with President Macron, would give fresh momentum to India's resolve to become a global hub of innovation, technology and investment.

The post, shared with the hashtags #PMModi, #BharatInnovates, #Innovation and #IndiaFrancePartnership, reflects the BJP's effort to amplify the diplomatic significance of the France visit at the state level.

Policy Backdrop

The India-France Strategic Partnership, established in 1998, has historically centred on defence, space and emerging technology cooperation. Over the past decade, bilateral engagement has progressively expanded to include innovation ecosystems and startup capital, reflecting a broader shift in the relationship's priorities.

India's Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, laid the domestic groundwork for attracting global venture funding and building an innovation-friendly ecosystem. The Bharat Innovates programme, jointly inaugurated by PM Modi and President Macron in Nice, represents the latest institutional expression of this strategic convergence between the two countries.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian tech startups and the broader innovation ecosystem stand to benefit most directly from the Bharat Innovates initiative, as it is designed to connect Indian entrepreneurs with global venture capitalists and institutional investors. PM Modi's direct engagement with leading investors in Nice signals a high-level political commitment to facilitating this capital flow.

For France, the partnership offers a strategic foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing startup markets. The joint programme also reinforces France's positioning as a preferred European partner for India as New Delhi pursues a multi-alignment approach to its foreign economic policy.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the operational details, funding commitments and project pipeline that emerge from the Bharat Innovates programme following its inauguration. Concrete announcements on venture capital flows, technology collaboration frameworks and startup support mechanisms will determine the programme's real-world impact.

CM Choudhary's endorsement also signals that the political messaging around this bilateral visit will be reinforced across BJP-governed states, amplifying the diplomatic achievement domestically ahead of ongoing legislative and electoral cycles.