External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Tuesday emphasized that India and France can play a significant role in shaping the fast-evolving global economy, including by inspiring the European Union (EU).
Speaking at the India-France CEO Forum in Paris, Jaishankar stressed the need for diversified production, reliable and resilient supply chains, and deeper business collaborations to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.
“This applies as much to manufacturing as it does to health,” he remarked.
Highlighting the independent traditions of both nations, Jaishankar said, “We are actively working to strengthen each other’s positions and make our collaboration a significant factor in contemporary global affairs.”
He underscored that stronger India-France cooperation would contribute to global economic stability during volatile times. “The ‘Make in India’ initiative has opened up numerous new possibilities in this regard,” he said on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit.
“The Summit itself is a reminder of how much we could achieve in AI, software development, and cybersecurity. The year 2026 will be celebrated as the ‘India-France Year of Innovation.’ Let’s use that as a driver,” he added.
Jaishankar urged stakeholders to weigh in on ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. “Defence, manufacturing, and aerospace are well-established areas of cooperation. Both the nature and scale of this collaboration are poised for a significant leap. The challenge before us is to fully capitalize on it,” he said.
He also highlighted India’s ongoing clean energy transition, rapid infrastructure development, and advancements in digital public infrastructure (DPI).
Earlier, Jaishankar met his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot to discuss strengthening bilateral ties with a focus on AI, innovation, connectivity, and clean energy.
The AI Action Summit brought together global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who delivered a motivating speech on AI, and top tech CEOs to discuss the future of AI with a strong emphasis on innovation and ethical development.
(Inputs from IANS)
