‘India-France Year of Innovation’ launched | We have reinforced our tech sovereignty… our partnership strong: Macron

He lauded other initiatives between the two countries, including the farm-to-plate project led by the French institute in Puducherry, tracking agricultural products, to the coming together of professionals of both countries for new experiences like the National Museum in Delhi and the Maritime museum complex in Gujarat.

Macron also spoke about how the PM’s presence in Mumbai to welcome him and the French delegation speaks to the long-standing friendship between the two countries and their personal friendship. Calling Mumbai the “city of dreams” and a “city in perpetual motion”, Macron said that there could not have been a better place to launch the Year of Innovation between the two countries. He thanked India for the “extraordinary confidence” placed in the partnership between the two countries.

He said that he along with PM Modi had co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris in 2025, and he was looking forward to continuing moving forward together toward better use of AI – he is set to attend the India AI Impact Summit being held in Delhi.

At the beginning of his 13-minute talk, Macron said that many companies across the globe are being led by people born in India. “Many of them were born here in India. The question is no longer whether India innovates, the question is who will innovate with India and France is the only clear answer. We are here, we want to be here with you and we are not leaving. Jai Ho,” he said.