Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, 18 June 2026, for a visit to the exhibition area at VivaTech 2026 in Paris, one of Europe's largest technology and innovation showcases. Modi described the energy and enthusiasm at the event as something that 'must be seen to be believed.'

Context

VivaTech is an annual technology exhibition held in Paris that brings together startups, established corporations, investors, and policymakers from across the world. The event serves as a flagship platform for showcasing digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and international tech collaboration. President Macron has been a consistent champion of the event as part of his broader effort to position France as a leading European hub for deep tech and AI.

Modi's presence at VivaTech alongside Macron signals the deepening of the India-France strategic partnership, which was established in 1998 and has progressively expanded to encompass technology, the digital economy, and innovation cooperation.

Policy Backdrop

India has been actively pursuing deeper technology partnerships with France and other European Union nations as a key pillar of its Digital India and startup-focused diplomacy. France, for its part, has aligned its AI and deep tech ambitions with India's interest in diversifying technology supply chains and attracting investment beyond traditional markets.

The bilateral relationship has seen growing momentum in areas such as space cooperation, defence technology, and digital infrastructure. A joint visit to a major commercial tech exhibition of this scale reinforces both governments' intent to translate strategic ties into concrete innovation outcomes.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian tech startups stand to benefit directly from greater visibility at platforms like VivaTech, which attract significant venture capital and corporate partnership interest from across Europe. The French tech ecosystem, in turn, sees India as a high-growth market and a source of engineering talent for collaborative R&D ventures.

For Indian entrepreneurs and innovators, a Prime Ministerial visit to VivaTech alongside the host nation's President sends a strong signal of governmental backing for cross-border startup and technology engagement. It also reinforces India's positioning as a serious player in the global innovation economy.

What's Next

Observers will watch closely for any follow-up announcements emerging from Modi's Paris visit, including potential agreements on joint research and development, startup funding mechanisms, or bilateral digital economy frameworks. The outcomes of this engagement are expected to feed into the agenda of the next India-France bilateral summit. Any formal announcements on technology investment or innovation corridors would mark a significant step forward in operationalising the two nations' strategic partnership.