France - India Relations

India and France have regular exchange of visits at the highest level. Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, held extensive discussions on a range of bilateral and global issues in May 2022 during the former’s official visit to France following the French President’s re-election for a second term. The two leaders agreed on a blueprint to work together on making the India-France strategic partnership a force for global good.

France and India work closely together on tackling climate change and furthering space exploration. Space agencies of both countries signed an agreement for cooperation for India’s first human space mission Gaganyaan. Both countries welcomed the decision for France to train medical support personnel for Indian astronauts, who will be part of the mission. Together, both countries have also launched a Space Climate Observatory that further enhances Indo-French cooperation on combating climate change.

India France held Strategic Dialogue 2021 - The Indian delegation was headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval while Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic advisor to President Emmanuel Macron, led the French side. The two sides held discussions on a variety of issues including counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, defence cooperation, maritime security, regional and global issues and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Mr. François Delattre, Secretary-General, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, held bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary, Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, during the former’s official visit to India in December 2021. The officials discussed the India-France potential for cooperation in sectors such as defence and security, space, cybersecurity and the digital economy, blue economy, education, energy, health and climate change.

COVID-19 Cooperation: India supplied France with nearly 2 mn hydroxychloroquine tablets and 36 MT of paracetamol (API) after having lifted export restrictions on these lifesaving drugs. France expressed its gratitude by sending 120 ventilators, 50 thousand serological tests, and 50 thousand nose/throat swabs as aid. France also announced a 200 mn Euro loan to India to help the vulnerable sections most severely affected by the pandemic. Over 2500 Indians had been repatriated from France and a similar number of French citizens were repatriated from India to their home countries through special flights.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Mr. Ajit Doval met with Mr. Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron, for the annual strategic dialogue between India and France on 6th November 2021. The topics discussed included strengthening the bilateral defence and security partnership, pursuing new initiatives in maritime, space and cyber domains, Committing to closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, France’s commitment to support Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, including defence industrialisation and joint research and technology development.

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, held a bilateral meeting with the President of France, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines of the 16th G20 Summit in October 2021. Some of the topics discussed were strengthening cooperation between India and France in various fields, climate finance in view of the COP26 Summit, EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, and the role of India-France partnership in promoting stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

In June 2021, France announced its intention to make a direct contribution of EUR 1 Mn to the International Solar Alliance (ISA), further strengthening and upgrading its partnership with India

The Indian Prime Minister also visited France in August 2019 at the invitation of the French President for a Bilateral Summit in Paris and to participate in the G7 Summit in Biarritz. The French President’s visit to India in 2018 included signing of several agreements between the countries to deepen the partnership.

France is the 11th largest investor in India, with cumulative FDI inflows of $10.4 bn during April 2000 - December 2022. The sectors attracting the most FDI from France are cement and gypsum products, drugs and pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery, and automobiles.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has been growing steadily and reached $12.4 Bn for the period April 2021 - March 2022.

India is proud to host 25 French R&D centres in the country. France is India’s 8th largest scientific partner with around 3000 co-publications per year and annually devotes around $5 Mn to scientific and technological cooperation with India.

In December 2021, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) announced signing of an MoU to establish a 4-year partnership with 21 French institutions under the aegis of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Government of France.

There are more than 1,000 French companies in India, that have a total turnover of $20 bn and employ 300,000 people. This is a testament to the strength of the Indo - French association.

France is partnering with India to develop Chandigarh, Puducherry and Nagpur as smart cities. It has already committed over $2.2 bn for India’s ‘Smart Cities’ project.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal along with Mr Olivier Becht, Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, co-chaired the India France Business Summit, commemorating 25 years of India-France Friendship from the 11th-13th of April 2023. The Summit focused on themes including building a green future, emerging technologies, defence cooperation and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific regions.

This year at IFFI (International Film Festival of India) 53, France has been chosen as the festival’s Country of Focus, in reciprocity of India being named the Country of Honour at the Marche du Cinema of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the country’s Independence.

France and India agreed to significantly enhance people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges. The countries have agreed on regular dialogue on consular matters, which will facilitate exchange and mobility.

In 2019 10,000 Indian students chose to pursue higher studies in France and the French Government has unveiled a plan to spend $1.4 Mn as assistcne to Indian students every year. France further plans to invite 20,000 Indian students in the country by the year 2025, as stated by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal along with Mr Olivier Becht, Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, participated in an event that showcased India’s cultural heritage and soft power and witnessed a participation of 600+ dignitaries from the French government, the Indian Business Diaspora in France and members of French business community. The Minister also interacted with members of the Indian community in Paris.