French President Emmanuel Macron is reaching India on a three-day official visit on 16 February. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Macron will attend various events in Mumbai and New Delhi from February 16 to 19 and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will be his fourth visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, reflecting the depth and continuity of the India-France strategic partnership.
High level programs and bilateral meetings in Mumbai
President Macron will reach Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport late on Monday night. On February 17, he will meet Prime Minister Modi at Lok Bhawan in Mumbai. After this, both the leaders will exchange MoUs and issue a joint press statement in the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan.
On the same day, the India-France Innovation Forum will be held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, while in the evening the joint inauguration of ‘India-France Year of Innovation and Cultural Commemoration 2026’ will be held at the Gateway of India.
Global focus at AI Impact Summit
On February 18, Macron will reach New Delhi and participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam. On February 19, he will participate in the opening ceremony, visit to country pavilions, Leaders Plenary and working lunch. The summit focuses on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and global policy collaboration and will bring together heads of state, policy-makers and tech leaders from around the world.
Discussion on ‘Horizon 2047 Roadmap’ and Indo-Pacific
The Ministry of External Affairs said that during this visit, both the leaders will discuss further strengthening cooperation in areas like defence, technology, innovation, research, energy and people-to-people contacts under the ‘Horizon 2047 Roadmap’. Besides, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and global and regional issues will also be discussed.
Important visit in terms of strategic and defense cooperation
The visit comes at a time when India is working towards diversifying its defense and technology partners. India’s recent approval of major defense deals, including the purchase of French fighter aircraft and missiles, underlines the strategic importance of this partnership.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France in February 2025, his presence as chief guest on Bastille Day in 2023 and Macron’s participation as chief guest on Republic Day in 2024, all these events have given a new impetus to trust and cooperation between the two countries.
2026: India-France ‘Year of Innovation’
Both the countries have decided to celebrate the year 2026 as the ‘Year of Innovation’, with the aim of promoting partnerships in startups, technology, research, AI and cultural exchange. This visit of President Macron is considered important from the point of view of giving a new direction to India-France relations with the formal launch of this initiative.
