Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday departed for a six-day visit to France and Slovakia, a diplomatic tour that will combine high-level bilateral engagements, technology and innovation partnerships, outreach to the Indian diaspora, and participation in the G7 Summit, as India seeks to deepen its strategic engagement with Europe and amplify the voice of the Global South on the world stage.
The visit, scheduled from June 13 to 18, begins in the French city of Nice, where Modi will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and jointly inaugurate the flagship “Bharat Innovates” event, a major platform bringing together innovators, start-ups, investors and academic institutions from India and across the world.
Ahead of his departure, Modi said the tour would focus on strengthening economic and cultural linkages while advancing India’s partnerships with key European nations.
“Over the next few days, I will be in France and Slovakia to attend various programmes, including bilateral talks, multilateral engagements and interaction with the Indian diaspora. The focus will be on boosting economic as well as cultural linkages,” the Prime Minister said in a post on social media platform X.
“The visit will begin with programmes in Nice, notably ‘Bharat Innovates,’ in which President Macron will be present. As India and France are marking the ‘India-France Year of Innovation,’ ‘Bharat Innovates’ will be a vibrant platform that brings together innovators, StartUps and those related to the world of innovation,” he added.
In his departure statement, Modi underscored the importance of France in India’s foreign policy and strategic calculus, noting that bilateral ties had reached a new level earlier this year.
“France occupies a special place in India’s strategic vision. Earlier this year, President Macron visited India and we elevated our relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. When I meet President Macron in Nice, we will review the progress made since February, and chart the next steps in our cooperation,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he also looked forward to discussions with Macron on major international developments and issues of shared concern.
A key highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of Bharat Innovates on June 14, an event being organised against the backdrop of the India-France Year of Innovation. The government views the initiative as a major step toward connecting India’s rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem with global capital, technology networks and research institutions.
Modi described the event as a “landmark” initiative that would connect India’s most promising start-ups with global investment opportunities and act as a catalyst for innovation emerging from the country’s higher education institutions.
The France leg of the tour comes at a time when India and France are expanding cooperation across defence, space, artificial intelligence, clean energy, critical technologies, maritime security and Indo-Pacific affairs. Paris remains one of New Delhi’s closest strategic partners in Europe, with both countries frequently coordinating on regional and global security issues.
Following his engagements in Nice, Modi will travel to the Slovak Republic for a State Visit on June 14 and 15, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Central European nation since its independence in 1993.
Calling the visit “historic”, Modi said it reflected the growing momentum in bilateral ties and would help expand cooperation in trade, investment and technology.
“I look forward to holding discussions with President Pellegrini and Prime Minister Fico in Bratislava. I will also have the opportunity to interact with Slovak business leaders,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that the visit would contribute to strengthening India’s broader engagement with the European Union, particularly as discussions continue on advancing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
“Building on the momentum of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, the visit will further energize our Strategic Partnership with the European Union, of which Slovakia is an important and valued member,” he said.
After concluding the Slovakia leg, Modi will return to France to participate in the G7 Summit in Evian on June 16 and 17. India has been invited to the summit for the eighth consecutive time, reflecting the country’s increasing global influence and the growing recognition of its role in addressing major international challenges.
Highlighting India’s participation, Modi said the invitation reflected the confidence that international partners have placed in the country.
“India’s presence at the G7 reflects the trust our partners place in us and our growing global profile. This is the 8th consecutive G7 Summit to which India has been invited,” he said.
“At the G7, India will not only speak for itself, but it will also give voice to the aspirations of the Global South,” he added.
The final leg of the visit will take Modi to Paris on June 18, where he will attend VivaTech 2026, one of Europe’s largest technology and innovation gatherings, alongside President Macron.
India is expected to have the largest national pavilion at this year’s edition of the event, showcasing the country’s rapidly growing start-up ecosystem and technological capabilities.
Calling the development a symbol of expanding cooperation between Indian and European innovators, Modi said the event would demonstrate the vast scope for future collaboration.
“VivaTech is Europe’s foremost gathering of technology and innovation, and India will have the largest national pavilion at this edition, a fitting symbol of the enormous potential for partnership between Indian and European innovation ecosystems,” he said.
The Prime Minister is also expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora in France, whom he described as a “living bridge” between the two countries.
Expressing confidence about the outcomes of the tour, Modi said the visits would strengthen India’s engagement with Europe while expanding partnerships across strategic, economic and technological domains.
“I am confident that my visits to France and the Slovak Republic will reinforce India’s deepening engagement with both Europe and the G7, and showcase our steadfast commitment to expanding the horizon of our partnerships with the continent and beyond,” he said.
The multi-nation visit is being closely watched as India seeks to leverage its growing diplomatic and economic influence to build stronger partnerships in Europe, accelerate technology-driven cooperation, attract investment into its innovation ecosystem and reinforce its position as a leading voice of the developing world in global forums.
