Mumbai — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday described India as a “global leader in innovation” following high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a key moment in the strengthening India–France strategic partnership.
President Macron arrived in India for his fourth official visit and received a ceremonial welcome at Mumbai airport. The two leaders met at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, where they held delegation-level discussions covering defense cooperation, technology, innovation, and economic ties.
Addressing a joint press conference after the talks, Prime Minister Modi referred to President Macron as a “dear friend” and emphasized the deep trust and growing cooperation between the two nations. Macron, in turn, praised India’s rapid progress in technology and innovation, calling the country a driving force in global innovation ecosystems.
During the visit, Modi and Macron jointly inaugurated—via virtual mode—the final assembly line of the Tata Airbus H125 Light Utility Helicopter facility in Vemagal, Karnataka. Prime Minister Modi described the project as a symbol of “partnership for global progress,” highlighting India’s expanding role in advanced manufacturing and aerospace.
President Macron also inaugurated the “India–France Year of Innovation,” calling Mumbai a “dream city” and saying there could not have been a better place to launch the initiative. He stressed that collaboration between India and France in innovation, research, and emerging technologies would contribute not only to bilateral growth but also to global development.
Macron’s three-day India visit is expected to further deepen cooperation in defense, clean energy, innovation, and industrial manufacturing, reinforcing the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries.