As India and France mark the Year of Innovation, leaders from both countries held discussions on further deepening collaboration across trade, technology and emerging sectors during a meeting between Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Nice's Mayor Eric Ciotti.
Productive Day in Nice
In a post on X, Goyal said, "Wrapped up a productive day in Nice by hosting a dinner in the presence of the Mayor of Nice, Mr. Eric Ciotti, alongside distinguished leaders from government, business, innovation and investment ecosystems." He noted that the evening provided an "excellent opportunity" to exchange ideas and explore new avenues for collaboration across trade, technology, and emerging sectors.
He highlighted how, as India advances towards a Viksit Bharat, the partnership with France continues to unlock new opportunities for co-innovation and technological advancement, while fostering solutions that serve not only the two nations but the wider world.
Bharat Innovates 2026
Goyal added that Nice is hosting Bharat Innovates 2026, at the Palais des Expositions in Nice, showcasing India's deep-tech prowess on the global stage, featuring 120 innovative startups and over 20 Institutes of Excellence across 13 critical technology domains. The event has drawn participation from more than 350 prominent investors and venture capitalists from around the world. It underscores the Government of India's commitment to transforming the country into a global innovation hub under the Viksit Bharat vision while reaffirming the significance of India-France cooperation in advancing the global technology landscape.
Nice's Openness to the World
Nice's Mayor Eric Ciotti called India a major partner for the future and expressed his commitment for Nice to be a city open to the world-- with a focus on investment, innovation and international partnerships. He also held a bilateral meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and exchanged views on cooperation between Nice and India. In a post on X he said, "With Sophia Antipolis, our university, our innovation ecosystem, and our businesses, our territory has a full role to play in this forward-looking partnership."
Mayor Meets PM Modi
Earlier, the Mayor of Nice met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held discussions on the prospects for economic cooperation between Nice and India. He also presented to PM Modi the medal of the City of Nice, underlining the further desire to deepen ties across areas such as economy, academia, technology and culture.
Key Outcomes of Modi's France Visit
India and France on Sunday unveiled 13 key outcomes spanning innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), trade, education, space and strategic cooperation during the first leg of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France, underscoring the growing depth of the bilateral partnership. On the economic front, India and France decided to establish a high-level mechanism to achieve the goal of doubling bilateral trade over the next five years, building upon the existing Economic and Financial Dialogue. The two sides also instituted an Economic Security Dialogue. A Declaration of Intent on Cooperation on Railway and High-speed Railway Development in India was also announced, signalling enhanced collaboration in transportation infrastructure.
