Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy shared a live broadcast link on Thursday, 18 June 2026, announcing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was participating in VivaTech 2026 in Paris, one of Europe's largest technology and startup conferences.

Context

VivaTech is an annual technology and innovation conference held in Paris, France, that brings together global startups, investors, and policymakers. The event serves as a high-profile platform for heads of state and government to signal their nations' digital ambitions to an international audience. Prime Minister Modi's participation underscores India's active engagement with European technology forums.

G. Kishan Reddy, who also serves as BJP's Telangana state president, shared the broadcast link to amplify the Prime Minister's presence at the event, drawing attention from Indian audiences to the live proceedings in the French capital.

Policy Backdrop

India's engagement with global technology platforms has been a consistent feature of its foreign policy since the launch of the Digital India programme in 2015. The initiative was designed to accelerate domestic technology adoption and position India as a competitive player in the global digital economy. Participation in events such as VivaTech represents an extension of that outward-facing digital diplomacy.

France has emerged as a significant European partner for India in areas including artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and space technology. The two countries have progressively deepened their strategic partnership, and high-level engagements at technology forums reinforce those ties at the level of heads of government.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian startups and technology investors stand to benefit directly from the visibility that a Prime Ministerial appearance at a global forum like VivaTech generates. Such platforms provide Indian firms with access to European capital, potential partnerships, and market entry opportunities that are difficult to replicate through bilateral channels alone.

Broader technology cooperation between India and France also has implications for sectors such as semiconductor supply chains, cloud infrastructure, and digital public goods — areas where both governments have expressed intent to collaborate. India's active presence at European innovation summits is part of a wider strategy to diversify its technology partnerships beyond traditional allies.

What's Next

Observers will watch for any bilateral technology announcements or memoranda of understanding that may follow PM Modi's participation at VivaTech 2026. Such high-profile appearances have historically been accompanied by investment pledges or framework agreements that are formalised in the days following the event.

India's continued presence at successive global technology forums signals a long-term diplomatic posture: positioning the country not merely as a technology services exporter but as a co-shaper of global digital governance and innovation norms.