India-France bilateral trade to double in five years under Modi-Macron AI and innovation plans

India and France agreed to target doubling annual bilateral trade to USD 32 billion within five years and launched an innovation roadmap and joint artificial intelligence framework. Talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron also produced agreements on high-speed rail cooperation, classified data security, and expanding Indias UPI payments at Paris and Nice airports.

India and France agreed on a five-year plan to double annual bilateral trade from about USD 16 billion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron also backed an innovation roadmap and a joint artificial intelligence framework. The decisions followed talks aimed at widening cooperation in key sectors, including technology, defence, and energy.

The two leaders produced 13 outcomes from the meeting. These included a high-speed railway cooperation declaration and a security pact for handling classified data. The sides also agreed to expand India’s UPI payment network to the Paris and Nice airports. Modi arrived in the Mediterranean city of Nice on Saturday night.

India-France bilateral trade target and India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030 focused on critical and emerging technologies. The plan also covered startups, incubators, and academic mobility. It aimed to improve links between industry and universities. The two sides also set up a high-level mechanism to reach the trade-doubling goal.

A separate dialogue mechanism on economic security was also announced. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said technology and innovation featured strongly in the talks. Misri linked this focus to economic growth goals and wider cooperation. Misri also referred to progress earlier this year on negotiations for the India-EU free trade agreement.

India-France UPI expansion in France airports and digital public infrastructure

Misri confirmed that UPI use in France was moving ahead. "I understand thatin the next few days,in the coming week,UPI is going to be available atCharles de Gaulle Airport in Parisandinterestingly enough right here at the airport in Nice,\" Misri said. The change is expected to help Indian tourists, students, diaspora members, and business travellers.

India-France joint Artificial Intelligence AI Working Group and governance

The two countries announced a joint Artificial Intelligence AI Working Group. It is meant to support AI governance, joint research and development, and capacity building. The plan also includes industry exchanges. Misri said the broader set of outcomes focused on innovation and the digital space. He also noted 19 agreements signed between institutions from both innovation ecosystems.

India-France defence cooperation and Rafale fighter jets under MRFA project

Discussions also covered defence, including India’s plan to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation. Misri said talks on the Rafale programme had moved forward. Misri added that India sought higher local content in joint defence work. The approach reflects Make-in-India and co-development, co-design, and co-production goals.

\"There were talks on Rafale and other issues in todays discussions but I will say the underlying theme was that in case of any defence platform we will move forward on the basis that there should be maximum local content, local manufacturing and our cooperation should be designed keeping this in mind,\" Misri said. Under the MRFA project, 18 Rafale are to arrive fly-away, while others are to be made in India.

The plan under MRFA includes around 50 per cent indigenous content for aircraft made in India. Misri said the Modi-Macron talks covered defence, security, space, and trade. The talks also covered investment, education, mobility, and people-to-people ties. Modi also wrote on social media: \"The India-France partnership will keep scaling new heights.\"

India-France civil nuclear energy cooperation and Jaitapur project

Civil nuclear energy cooperation was another major part of the talks, including the Jaitapur project. Misri said discussions continued between EDF, Electricity de France and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The talks covered technical issues and financial terms. Misri also said both sides discussed small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors.

\"There was a discussion on nuclear cooperation. And the Prime Minister in particular underlinedthe recent developmentson the Indian front in terms of theenactment of the Shanti legislation in India,\" Misri said. Misri added that this could open the door for French firms. Participation could be direct or with Indian private sector companies.

After the meeting, both countries announced a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Allied Sectors at Kanpur. The centre is set to support training, institutional ties, and research in aviation. It is also expected to strengthen the workforce for manufacturing and MRO Maintenance, Repair, and Operations activities.

Misri said the leaders also discussed talent mobility and student exchanges. The sides looked at expanding mutual recognition of educational qualifications. Modi invited French universities to set up campuses in India under the new education policy. Misri said Modi welcomed Macron’s commitment on this issue.

The External Affairs Ministry said Modi and Macron called for early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The ministry said the leaders shared views on West Asia and Ukraine. It added that both leaders backed the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership. The ministry said the partnership aimed to create more opportunities and support peace and stability.

With inputs from PTI