Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in France on Saturday for a visit during which he will hold talks with President Emmanuel Macron, participate in the G7 Summit and attend key innovation-focused events aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
He was received at Nice Cote d'Azur Airport by France's Education Minister Edouard Geffray; Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste; French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou; and Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti, among other dignitaries.
Je viens d’atterrir à Nice. Outre Nice, cette visite en France comprend des programmes à Évian et à Paris. Elle sera marquée par des rencontres bilatérales et multilatérales, visant à renforcer les liens d’amitié de l’Inde avec ses partenaires clés en matière de développement.… pic.twitter.com/hB9zCWoWoZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 13, 2026
"Landed in Nice. In addition to Nice, this France visit includes programmes in Evian and Paris. There will be bilateral and multilateral engagements, which will be aimed at improving India’s friendships with key developmental partners," Modi said in a social media post after his arrival.
In the first leg of the visit, the prime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Macron on Sunday and also inaugurate ‘Bharat Innovates’ alongside the French president. The event will bring together top innovation startups and Venture Capital funds from India, France, and other countries.
Both leaders will review the full spectrum of the India-France bilateral relationship, which was elevated to the level of a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year. In a social media post, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen India-France cooperation across key sectors.
"Innovation sector will be a key focus area as India and France together celebrate Year 2026 as the ‘Year of Innovation’. The ‘Bharat Innovates’ event at BharatInnov2026 will showcase India's vibrant innovation ecosystem and offer a platform for startups and innovators to present their cutting-edge solutions and products," he said.
Meanwhile, the Tricolour was hoisted at the City Hall, the Office of the Mayor of Nice, in honour of Modi's arrival, a rare gesture for a visiting foreign leader.
In his departure statement ahead of his week-long visit to France and Slovakia, Modi said India’s presence at the G7 reflects the trust its partners place in the country and its rising global profile.
