Modi Drives Tech and Industry Pacts at VivaTech 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified economic diplomacy in Paris, advancing strategic collaborations with major French industrial leaders and presenting India’s digital public infrastructure model at VivaTech 2026. The diplomatic mission catalyzed crucial investment pledges across the manufacturing, maritime logistics, green technology, and artificial intelligence sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed high-level industrial discussions with Saint-Gobain Chief Executive Officer Benoit Bazin to deepen the engineering firm’s commercial operations across the subcontinent.

The Prime Minister highlighted that India is undergoing an expansive modernization phase regarding public infrastructure and metropolitan urbanization projects.

Modi stated that the executive dialogue explored strategic avenues to scale Saint-Gobain’s production capacity in domestic markets while accelerating joint ventures in industrial innovation and the circular economy.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the manufacturing scale and geographic diversity of India provide an optimal operational hub to engineer sustainable building materials tailored for the Global South.

Writing on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister shared:

“Glad to interact with Mr. Benoit Bazin of Saint-Gobain. India is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in infrastructure and urban development. Discussed ways to further expand Saint-Gobain’s footprint in India and partner in innovation, circular economy and more. India’s diversity and scale offer an ideal platform for developing construction solutions for the Global South.”

PM participates in Vivatech 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, attended the VivaTech 2026 summit in Paris, establishing a major diplomatic presence at the premier European technology and startup exhibition.

Addressing global tech entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and corporate executives, the Prime Minister outlined India’s commitment to human-centric computing alongside emerging frontier technologies, while praising the expanding digital cooperation between Paris and New Delhi. He demonstrated how automated systems have revolutionized domestic sectors, ranging from unified digital payment rails to predictive agricultural data and sovereign aerospace projects. Following the assembly address, Modi and President Macron visited several commercial stalls to review modern applications built by Indian startups focusing on clinical healthcare, environmental sustainability, and electric mobility.

India assumed the formal role of AI Country Partner at VivaTech 2026, marking its largest delegation in event history with dedicated pavilions highlighting national advancements in advanced computing, clean tech, and public digital networks. More than 80 competitive Indian deep-tech firms and digital enterprises showcased operational models to European buyers.

The high-level executive attendance aims to reinforce structural ties linking the French and Indian digital economies. Bilateral cooperation has grown steadily over multiple cycles; Modi delivered a virtual address to the forum in 2021, India achieved “Country of the Year” status in 2022, and VivaTech organizers recently signed an institutional partnership with the Bengaluru Tech Summit. This current diplomatic push carries added significance as both republics observe 2026 as the official India-France Year of Innovation.

Unveiling the state’s engineering vision to international delegates, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that public architecture must remain equitable during eras of structural market disruption.

Attending the convention with French President Emmanuel Macron, Modi stated that his administration would focus on regulatory enablement while allowing private enterprise to lead commercial deployment, inviting international funds to scale rapidly within the subcontinent.

The Prime Minister noted that technological deployment achieves true socioeconomic value only when industrial access is democratized across all segments of global society.

Focusing on automated computing, the Prime Minister stated that smart models must protect environmental systems while maximizing economic output, adding that the term AI represents an “All Inclusive” philosophy for the Indian administration.

The European technology convention features a massive Indian corporate pavilion, breaking previous attendance records for overseas delegations at the Paris venue.

The dual focus on domestic industrialization initiatives and international summits positions India as a major global destination for venture capital, technical engineering talent, and digital business operations.

Reflecting on the timing of the summit, Modi noted that 2026 marks a historic period for cross-border trade, driven by the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations and coordinated bilateral innovation programs.

The Prime Minister noted that sovereign digital programs are generating measurable wealth at the grassroots level, backed by an domestic ecosystem containing more than 200,000 operating startups.

He affirmed that the state is actively removing bureaucratic bottlenecks, supporting private manufacturing operations through comprehensive state incentive programs valued at over $50 billion.

Modi met leading business executives in Paris earlier that day to secure external capital commitments and review corporate expansion roadmaps.

According to statements issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the closed-door corporate sessions focused on expanding industrial manufacturing, automated transport systems, commercial shipping, and deep-learning software models.

The Prime Minister traveled to the French capital following his diplomatic attendance at the G7 Summit, where he held parallel bilateral discussions with global counterparts, including US President Donald Trump.

Among the corporate executives, Modi held talks with Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and CEO of maritime transport giant CMA CGM, focusing on supply chain resilience and port infrastructure.

The Prime Minister also reviewed green materials manufacturing with Saint-Gobain chief Benoit Bazin, emphasizes sustainable urban engineering solutions.

Modi concluded individual corporate meetings by reviewing transport localization with Alstom CEO Martin Sion and discussing natural language processing capabilities with Mistral AI co-founder Arthur Mensch.

The corporate leadership of CMA CGM confirmed that the bilateral talks explored joint developments in heavy shipbuilding, vessel recycling programs, and localized container manufacturing within Indian ports.

Future Outlook

The industrial and technological agreements reached during VivaTech 2026 are poised to accelerate India’s integration into European supply chains. With the Indian government backing private enterprises through a $50 billion incentive framework, the focus will shift toward executing these cross-border projects. Over the coming months, joint initiatives between Indian deep-tech startups and French conglomerates like Saint-Gobain and Alstom are expected to materialize, particularly in railway modernization, sustainable urban construction, and inclusive artificial intelligence deployment across the Global South.

FAQs

What role did India play at VivaTech 2026?

India served as the official AI Country Partner at VivaTech 2026, marking its largest appearance at the European tech event. The nation showcased its innovation ecosystem through specialized pavilions and over 80 deep-tech startups.

Which French business leaders did Prime Minister Modi meet in Paris?

Prime Minister Modi held high-level meetings with Benoit Bazin of Saint-Gobain, Rodolphe Saade of CMA CGM, Martin Sion of Alstom, and Arthur Mensch of Mistral AI to discuss investments in infrastructure, shipping, rail, and artificial intelligence.

What is the financial scope of India’s support for private enterprise innovation?

The Indian government is actively supporting private enterprise and commercialization through targeted financial incentives worth more than $50 billion to ensure ease of doing business and regulatory simplification.

Why is the year 2026 significant for India-France relations?

The year 2026 is designated as the India-France Year of Innovation, a milestone underscored by high-profile tech collaborations, bilateral trade discussions, and the progression of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.