Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 18 June 2026 addressed the global technology community through a post directed at VivaTech, the annual international tech and startup fair held in Paris, stating that access is the defining factor in technology and innovation.

Context

In a concise but pointed message to VivaTech, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'Access is key when it comes to tech and innovation.' The remark, accompanied by a video, signals India's continued engagement with one of Europe's most prominent technology platforms. VivaTech is held annually in Paris and draws startups, investors, and policymakers from across the world.

India has previously maintained a national pavilion at VivaTech, most notably in 2023, where it showcased its startup ecosystem and semiconductor ambitions. The Prime Minister's direct address to the forum underscores the strategic importance New Delhi places on technology diplomacy with European partners.

Policy Backdrop

The emphasis on 'access' resonates directly with two of the government's flagship domestic programmes. The Digital India initiative, launched in 2015, has focused on expanding broadband connectivity, e-governance infrastructure, and digital literacy to the last mile across the country. Complementing it, the Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, was designed to improve access to funding and markets for early-stage companies.

Together, these programmes reflect a consistent policy position: that equitable access to technology — not just its creation — determines how broadly its benefits are distributed. Prime Minister Modi's message to a global audience at VivaTech effectively projects this domestic philosophy onto the international stage.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian startups and tech entrepreneurs stand to benefit most directly from the visibility generated by such high-profile international engagements. India's growing digital economy has increasingly attracted foreign investment, and appearances at forums like VivaTech serve as a platform to accelerate that interest.

For European technology companies and investors, the Prime Minister's message is a signal of openness and intent. Engagement with platforms such as VivaTech forms part of a broader pattern of India-EU technology diplomacy, which has gained momentum alongside discussions on digital trade, data governance, and artificial intelligence regulation.

What's Next

Future editions of VivaTech and any associated India-EU digital partnership announcements will be closely watched for concrete collaboration outcomes. The Prime Minister's direct communication with the forum suggests that New Delhi views European tech platforms as important arenas for projecting India's innovation credentials and attracting strategic investment in emerging technologies.

As India continues to build regulatory frameworks for AI and data, its engagement with global forums will likely serve as a testing ground for aligning domestic policy ambitions with international standards.