Day 1: Private dinner with Macron, meeting with French PM

PM Modi will arrive in Paris at around 4 pm IST and is expected to receive a ceremonial welcome at the Orly Airport in Paris. His first interaction would be with the Prime Minister of France Elisabeth Borne, as per the Ministry of External Affairs. He is then scheduled to meet the President of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher. In the evening, the PM will address members of the Indian community at the iconic La Seine Musicale. This will be followed by a private dinner to be hosted by President Macron at Elysee Palace in honour of the prime minister.

Day 2: Modi to attend Bastille Day Parade, IAF to perform fly-past

PM Modi will be the guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade in France, an annual national event that celebrates the beginnings of the French Revolution which led to the wiping out of monarchy from the country. An Indian tri-services contingent will be part of the Bastille Day Parade this year and three Indian Air Force aircraft will perform a fly-past on the occasion. "This visit is particularly special as I will join President Macron for the French National Day, or Bastille Day celebrations in Paris as the Guest of Honour," Modi said in his departure statement on Thursday.

Bilateral talks with Macron, meetings with CEOs

PM Modi will receive a ceremonial reception at the Elysee Palace on Friday evening, which will be followed by delegation-level bilateral talks between the prime minister and President Macron. The two leaders will then interact with the CEOs from both countries under the rubric of India-France CEO Forum. The PM's programme for the second day also includes a meeting with the President of the French National Assembly Braun-Pivet and a series of other meetings with thought leaders and prominent business people.

What are Macron and Modi likely to discuss?

The discussions between Macron and Modi on the 25th anniversary of the partnership between the two nations will "set new benchmarks for our strategic partnership in years ahead," the Ministry of External Affairs said. Security cooperation, space cooperation, technology partnership, counterterrorism and cybersecurity, climate change, reorientation of the security partnership in line with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives, and supply chain integration between the industry and business segments of the two countries will be among the topics of deliberation.

Defence deals for Rafale jets, Navy submarines expected

A few big-ticket announcements on the defence front are expected during the prime minister's visit, including India’s procurement of 26 Rafale M fighters and additional Scorpene submarines for the Navy and a deal to jointly develop an aircraft engine in India. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to meet on Thursday to clear the deals likely to be announced during the visit.

At Louvre, a grand state banquet in Modi's honour

The visit will conclude with a state banquet at the Louvre Museum, which houses world-famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa and The Coronation of Napoleon. The banquet will be hosted by the French president in honour of the Indian prime minister. A number of French and Indian leaders are likely to be in attendance at the event. Last month, US President Joe Biden had hosted a state banquet for PM Modi in Washington, where business magnate Mukesh Ambani, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and US Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others were among those present.

'My visit will provide new impetus to India-France ties': Modi's departure statement

In his departure statement released ahead of his visit, PM Modi wrote, "I look forward to meeting President Macron and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward this longstanding and time-tested partnership over the next 25 years." "Rooted in deep trust and commitment, our two countries cooperate closely across various domains including defence, space, civil nuclear, blue economy, trade, investment, education, culture and people to people ties. We also work together on regional and global issues... I am confident that my visit will provide a new impetus to our strategic partnership," he added. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron had their most recent meeting on the sidelines of G7 summit in Hiroshima in May this year.

After Paris, PM to visit UAE

The Prime Minister will depart for the UAE after fulfilling his engagements in Paris, and reach the Arab nation on July 15. He will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, hold bilateral talks with him, and attend a series of other events. "The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has been steadily strengthening and Prime Minister’s visit will be an opportunity to identify ways to take this forward in various domains such as energy, education, healthcare, food security, fintech, defence and culture," the prime minister's office said.

PM Modi’s France Visit: Bastille Day parade, defence deal with Macron & all that’s on the agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday embarked on an official visit to France, where he will hold bilateral discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and take part in the national Bastille Day celebrations as the guest of honour.

“This is a very, very special gesture extended by France to Prime Minister Modi,” Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said in press briefing on Wednesday.

PM Modi is slated to attend a grand state banquet at the iconic Louvre Museum as well as a private dinner hosted by Macron at his residence during the two-day visit, which marks 25 years of India-France strategic ties. The PM will also interact with prominent French leaders and members of the Indian diaspora.

Here’s what’s on the agenda for the visit.

01
Day 1: Private dinner with Macron, meeting with French PM
PM Modi will arrive in Paris at around 4 pm IST and is expected to receive a ceremonial welcome at the Orly Airport in Paris.

His first interaction would be with the Prime Minister of France Elisabeth Borne, as per the Ministry of External Affairs. He is then scheduled to meet the President of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher.

In the evening, the PM will address members of the Indian community at the iconic La Seine Musicale.

This will be followed by a private dinner to be hosted by President Macron at Elysee Palace in honour of the prime minister.
02
Day 2: Modi to attend Bastille Day Parade, IAF to perform fly-past
PM Modi will be the guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade in France, an annual national event that celebrates the beginnings of the French Revolution which led to the wiping out of monarchy from the country.

An Indian tri-services contingent will be part of the Bastille Day Parade this year and three Indian Air Force aircraft will perform a fly-past on the occasion.

"This visit is particularly special as I will join President Macron for the French National Day, or Bastille Day celebrations in Paris as the Guest of Honour," Modi said in his departure statement on Thursday.
03
Bilateral talks with Macron, meetings with CEOs
PM Modi will receive a ceremonial reception at the Elysee Palace on Friday evening, which will be followed by delegation-level bilateral talks between the prime minister and President Macron.

The two leaders will then interact with the CEOs from both countries under the rubric of India-France CEO Forum.

The PM's programme for the second day also includes a meeting with the President of the French National Assembly Braun-Pivet and a series of other meetings with thought leaders and prominent business people.
04
What are Macron and Modi likely to discuss?
The discussions between Macron and Modi on the 25th anniversary of the partnership between the two nations will "set new benchmarks for our strategic partnership in years ahead," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Security cooperation, space cooperation, technology partnership, counterterrorism and cybersecurity, climate change, reorientation of the security partnership in line with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives, and supply chain integration between the industry and business segments of the two countries will be among the topics of deliberation.
05
Defence deals for Rafale jets, Navy submarines expected
A few big-ticket announcements on the defence front are expected during the prime minister's visit, including India’s procurement of 26 Rafale M fighters and additional Scorpene submarines for the Navy and a deal to jointly develop an aircraft engine in India.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to meet on Thursday to clear the deals likely to be announced during the visit.
06
At Louvre, a grand state banquet in Modi's honour
The visit will conclude with a state banquet at the Louvre Museum, which houses world-famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa and The Coronation of Napoleon.

The banquet will be hosted by the French president in honour of the Indian prime minister. A number of French and Indian leaders are likely to be in attendance at the event.

Last month, US President Joe Biden had hosted a state banquet for PM Modi in Washington, where business magnate Mukesh Ambani, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and US Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others were among those present.
07
'My visit will provide new impetus to India-France ties': Modi's departure statement
In his departure statement released ahead of his visit, PM Modi wrote, "I look forward to meeting President Macron and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward this longstanding and time-tested partnership over the next 25 years."

"Rooted in deep trust and commitment, our two countries cooperate closely across various domains including defence, space, civil nuclear, blue economy, trade, investment, education, culture and people to people ties. We also work together on regional and global issues... I am confident that my visit will provide a new impetus to our strategic partnership," he added.

Prime Minister Modi and President Macron had their most recent meeting on the sidelines of G7 summit in Hiroshima in May this year.
08
After Paris, PM to visit UAE
The Prime Minister will depart for the UAE after fulfilling his engagements in Paris, and reach the Arab nation on July 15.

He will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, hold bilateral talks with him, and attend a series of other events.

"The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has been steadily strengthening and Prime Minister’s visit will be an opportunity to identify ways to take this forward in various domains such as energy, education, healthcare, food security, fintech, defence and culture," the prime minister's office said.