Nice (France): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Nice on Saturday night, and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ on Sunday.
The three-day innovation conclave has brought together startups, innovators and venture capital funds from India, France and a number of other countries.
Speaking at the inauguration event, Macron said India is a nation of innovation.
“We respect the Make-in-India initiative. France has been part of it in diverse sectors,” Macron stated.
“India is a country of innovation. India and France have a true partnership in critical sectors like AI and climate change,” the French President remarked, adding that there is “scope to expand bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy sector, including in the area of Small Modular Reactors.”
#WATCH | Nice, France: French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the ‘Bharat Innovates’ inauguration event
Translating his words, a translator says, “It is a huge honour, dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to welcome you here in Nice. A few months ago, we jointly launched the… pic.twitter.com/smwIYsqZhy
— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2026
Modi highlighted India and France’s special partnership.
“There are some relations which are driven by shared vision, along with shared interest. The relation between France and India is like that. In this relation, there is connection as well as conviction. In this relation, there is innovation and inspiration. In this relation, there is shared values and shared vision,” the Indian PM said.
“Innovation is in India’s DNA,” Modi. “We are no longer just adopters of technology, we are providers of technology. Whatever India innovates is aimed at benefiting humanity. Bharat Innovates seeks to advance that very vision.”
PM Modi told the audience that India aims to build technology for humanity — one which can be trusted, is inclusive and human-centric. “This has been the guiding principle of India’s digital revolution. The core element of our AI vision is ‘AI for All’,” Modi added.
“India today has a vast pool of more than 200,000 startups, contributing to both the Indian and global economy,” the PM said proudly.
#WATCH | Nice, France: At ‘Bharat Innovates’ inauguration event, PM Narendra Modi says, “During his visit to India, President Macron had said that for the solutions to challenges of this century, India and France will have to step forward together. I can proudly say today that… pic.twitter.com/ZFLXWYV8oR
— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2026
Modi, who is on a two-nation visit, will travel to Slovakia for the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister since it attained independence in 1993.
Modi will then return to France for the G7 Summit in Evian.