14 juillet 2025 - French National Day
Honourable Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Chers compatriotes,
Namaste, Good Evening, Bonsoir,
A very warm welcome to all of you on the French National Day.
As my fellow citizens, our Indian friends and colleagues from the diplomatic community are gathered here today, I would like to begin by taking a moment to reflect on the milestones that France and India have already reached this year.
In February this year, we were honoured by Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi’s sixth visit to France. On this occasion, our two countries co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, the next edition of which will be organized in New Delhi in February next year. Our leaders also discussed the deepening of the France-India Strategic Partnership, and announced the grand inauguration of the India-France Year of Innovation for 2026.
In Marseille, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a Consulate General of India. And only last month, the very first edition of the Raisina Mediterranean forum was held in Marseille, and graced by the participation of the Honourable External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar. This was an opportunity to not only follow up on our partnership but also demonstrate how the links between France and India – and more broadly between the European Union and the Indo-Pacific region – will shape our common future.
As we gear up to scale new heights in our bilateral relations in 2026, I am happy to report that both our nations are committed more than ever to accelerating our partnership across the three pillars of our India-France Horizon 2047 Roadmap:
First, a ”Partnership for Security and Sovereignty”, which has become the cornerstone of our joint vision for the Indo-Pacific. This has led us to implement an ambitious defence and security cooperation based on industrial partnerships applying the “Make in India” principle and on the intensification of joint military exercises. This was illustrated this year by the stopovers in India of the French carrier strike group on Mission Clémenceau and for the bilateral naval exercise Varuna, the recent Indo-French Army exercise Shakti in France, and the signing a historic new agreement on the acquisition of Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. Our partnership was also reflected in France’s clear condemnation of the ignominious terrorist attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
The second pillar is a much-needed” Partnership for the Planet”, which led us to take concrete actions for a sustainable future. In Paris, at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit hosted by France, we moved to ensure that the global AI sector would drive beneficial social, economic, and environmental outcomes in the public interest. In Nice, last month, we highlighted the urgent need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans during the United Nations Ocean Conference, which was attended by the Honourable Union Minister for the Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh. As co-chair with India of both the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resistant Infrastructure, France is committed to delivering with India on critical issues such as energy transition and sustainable infrastructure, including as part of the ambitious IMEC project.
The third pillar is our “Partnership for the People”, which has an unprecedented agenda to diversify and intensify our cooperation in fields like scientific exchanges, student mobility – which has increased significantly this year – and of course culture. A very notable recent illustration was an agreement between the Ministry of Culture and France Museum Development on the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum, signed in your very presence, Honourable minister. And we are pleased to see that more and more Indians are choosing and discovering France – whether as tourists or as students.
In this context, our sights are firmly set on the future. The upcoming India-France Year of Innovation will be a milestone in expanding our partnership, which is not only strategic, but universal as it extends literally from the seabed to outer space.
Our objective is to position France and India as exemplary partners in innovation by bringing our respective innovation ecosystems closer to tackle the challenges we both face, whether they are economic, environmental or technological. That is why, four main areas have been identified for directing the momentum of our partnership: Aerospace, Sustainable Development, Health/Agriculture/Well-being, and Creative and Cultural Industries. Several events will be organized throughout the year, with an immersive high-tech experience as the spectacular kick-off event in February next year.
In addition to a programme of events in 2026, we are looking forward to making the most of this momentum to launch new initiatives with India, in fields such as artificial intelligence and space, the establishment of a Franco-Indian Campus for Training and Professional Skills Development in Aeronautics, the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, the India-France Network of Innovation. All of these will contribute to connecting the Indian and the French ecosystems, and give rise to many other deliverables which is in many ways the new horizon of Franco-Indian cooperation.
To achieve this goal, we need the active involvement and support of all stakeholders, especially French and Indian companies. I invite you to work closely with us and become sponsors and partners of the Year of Innovation, particularly the opening event. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our different partners and sponsors for their generous contribution towards making today’s celebration so special.
Before concluding, I wish to thank all those who contribute every day to the dynamism of the relationship between our two nations, our Indian friends, who range from private citizens from all walks of life to the Indian authorities, and the vibrant French community, who together drive the momentum of our longstanding friendship with India. I would now like to say a few words in French to my fellow citizens.
Je voudrais remercier tous ceux qui contribuent à la richesse et à la diversité de la présence française en Inde : les Conseillers des Français de l’étranger, les Conseillers du commerce extérieur ; la Chambre de commerce et d’industrie franco-indienne, exceptionnellement active et innovante ; l’ensemble des entrepreneurs ; le monde associatif ; mais aussi les écoles françaises ; le réseau des alliances françaises en Inde, nos centres de recherche et l’ensemble de la communauté française. Vous avez tous un rôle à jouer dans l’Année de l’Innovation qui s’annonce et je compte sur vous.
I am very optimistic about the future of the relations between our two nations considering the drive and diversity of the players involved.
I also wish to express my confidence in the development of the relations between India and the European Union as the promising free trade agreement negotiations continue ahead of a much-awaited Summit that will highlight the importance of the strategic partnership between the EU and India.
The Indo-French relationship is thriving more than ever before. Let us all innovate to take it to new heights and uphold it as the beacon of stability we need in an increasingly unstable world, where France and India with their shared vision and destiny, join hands to be a force for good.
I wish everybody an enjoyable evening and invite you to sample the French delicacies offered by courtesy of our generous partners.
Thank you.
Vive la France!
Long live the India-France friendship!
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