Mumbai: French President Emmanuel Macron delivered strong praise for India’s growing global influence in innovation on Tuesday, highlighting the rising prominence of Indian-origin leaders at major multinational corporations. His remarks came at the India–France Innovation Forum in Mumbai, where he underscored India’s expanding footprint on the world stage.
Macron will also visit the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday, 18 February, on the third day of his trip to the subcontinent, according to a Mint report.
Jai Ho! 🇮🇳🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/SUx4ILKsip
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 17, 2026
Speaking to an audience of business leaders, policymakers and innovators, Macron pointed to the Indian roots of top executives heading some of the world’s biggest brands. “The CEO of Alphabet is Indian. The CEO of Microsoft is Indian. The CEO of IBM is Indian. The CEO of Adobe is Indian. The CEO of Palo Alto Networks is Indian. The CEO of Chanel is from Kolhapur, right here in this state…” he said, earning appreciative smiles from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, both present at the event.
Macron said this leadership reflects India’s deep talent pool and innovative capabilities, adding: “India does not just participate in global innovation; India leads it.”
The French president’s remarks came as part of a broader effort to spotlight India’s role in shaping future industries and to celebrate the contributions of Indian professionals at the helm of global companies. Notably, he referenced that the CEO of the iconic French luxury brand Chanel hails from Kolhapur in Maharashtra — the very region hosting his address.
Macron’s address was delivered amid the launch of deeper cooperation initiatives between India and France. Earlier on Tuesday, both nations elevated their bilateral relationship to a “special global strategic partnership,” agreeing to expand collaboration across key sectors including defence, trade and critical minerals. Both leaders described the strengthened ties as a “force for global stability” in an era of increasing geopolitical uncertainty
