Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings on Thursday with leading French businesses to discuss investment opportunities and expansion plans in India. The discussions were part of a broader effort to strengthen India-France economic and industrial cooperation across sectors ranging from shipping and logistics to railways, construction and artificial intelligence, according to the ministry of external affairs (MEA).
Meetings with Key French CEOs
The chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, Rodolphe Saade, was one of the attendees who met the prime minister in Paris. He told PTI, “We had global discussions on development that we could eventually implement in India. We discussed shipbuilding, ship recycling, deep sea ports as well as building containers.” He expressed optimism regarding potential for France and India to continue cooperating and forging new partnerships. “As far as we are concerned, we view (the) relationship with our Indian partnerships very good and I believe that we can do more in the field of shipping and logistics,” he said. “I believe that India has a major role to play in the supply chains of the world. The fact that we are now in a position to build container ships in India is definitely a good step forward. The future of India is happening now,” he added.
Focus on Sustainability and Railways
In a separate meeting, PM Modi spoke with Saint-Gobain's Chairman and CEO Benoit Bazin and Alstom CEO Martin Sion about prospects of sustainability in materials and construction, and mobility and the modernization of railways, respectively. PM Modi pointed to the company's substantial footprint and investment history in India as a source of opportunity for the country's youth, while Bazin outlined plans to deepen the company's investment and expand its operations further in India. The Prime Minister also met Alstom CEO Martin Sion to discuss mobility and the modernization of India's railways. He noted that Alstom's manufacturing presence and investment in the country have supported job creation and the rail sector's growth, and Sion indicated the company intends to expand its investments and operations in India further.
AI and Digital Cooperation
In a meeting with Mistral AI co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch, PM Modi spoke about the potential within India's expanding AI sector. Mensch, in turn, conveyed Mistral AI's eagerness to work with Indian firms and partners as a way to advance innovation and grow its AI capabilities in the country. Meanwhile, PM Modi also gave a keynote address centered on India's rapidly growing presence in the digital sphere at VivaTech. Notably, India fielded the largest national pavilion at this year's edition.
