In the capital of the French Riveira, famed for its deep blue waters, India and France forged a new grammar of their multi-hued relations that will pivot around technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a flair for describing bilateral relations in a set of catchy buzzwords and acronyms. Inaugurating the “Bharat Innovates,” a new platform showcasing India’s tech prowess, in the coastal city of Nice, with French President Emmanuel Macron by his side, he said: “This relationship is marked by both connection and conviction. It embodies both innovation and inspiration. It is founded upon shared values as well as a shared vision.”
It wasn’t just word play. The talks between PM Modi and Macron at Villa Kerylos in Nice culminated in substantive outcomes that included the adoption of “Innovation Roadmap 2030,” setting a new target of doubling bilateral trade within five years, the launch of an economic security dialogue, enhanced collaboration in defence co-production and fast-tracking civil nuclear cooperation.
Innovation Roadmap
Innovation formed the centrepiece of this phase of enhanced partnership. The “Innovation Roadmap 2030,” launched after the talks in Nice, provides a long-term direction to the tech-driven partnership. The signing of 19 agreements among institutions in the innovation ecosystems of both countries has expanded the canvas for collaboration across the spectrum. “Both leaders discussed expanding cooperation on Artificial Intelligence and agreed to create a Joint India-France AI Working Group for the purpose,” said a summary of the talks by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Looking ahead, the two countries will intensify cooperation in sectors such as deep-tech, semiconductors, agri-tech, med-tech, renewable energy, defence and space.
Addressing the leaders of tech companies in India and France, PM Modi showcased India as a provider of solutions to global challenges. “The Bharat Innovates platform is emerging as a bridge between Indian talent and European capital. It is a platform where young minds from India are getting the opportunity to connect with European expertise.”
“An India that is emerging not merely as a consumer of solutions, but as a contributor of solutions,” he said.
“Bharat innovates with scale and speed. Bharat innovates for a sustainable future. And Bharat innovates for the whole world.”
Author Profile
- Manish Chand is Founder and Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) and India and World, a pioneering magazine focused on international affairs. He is CEO, Centre for Global India Insights, an India-based think tank focused on global affairs.
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