Marseille [France], February 12 (HBTV): Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, reviewing progress in defence, space, civil nuclear cooperation, health, and people-to-people collaboration.
The discussions resulted in France agreeing to host Indian startups at the French startup incubator Station F.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a press conference on Wednesday, stated that PM Modi and Macron held discussions onboard the aircraft while traveling to Marseille. 'These discussions on several issues continued upon landing in Marseille, where the two leaders were joined by their larger delegations,' Misri said.
'These discussions covered the entire gamut of our deep and diverse strategic partnership. The two leaders reviewed progress in the areas of defence, space, civil nuclear cooperation, health, and people-to-people collaboration. There is an outcome document being circulated for details,' Misri added.
Both countries welcomed the inclusion of 10 Indian startups at the French startup incubator Station F. They also acknowledged the expanded possibilities for using India's real-time payment system, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), in France, according to a joint statement.
Misri emphasised that the bilateral discussions were primarily focused on AI. 'Next year, 2026, has been agreed as the India-France Year of Innovation,' he said.
Additionally, both leaders announced the grand inauguration of the India-France Year of Innovation in New Delhi in March 2026, launching its logo.
A Letter of Intent was signed between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA), France, to establish the Indo-French Center for Digital Sciences, according to an MEA release.
Key outcomes in civil nuclear energy emerged from the discussions, with both leaders welcoming the first meeting of the Special Task Force on Civil Nuclear Energy. They also welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) and the Implementing Agreement between India's GCNEP, DAE, and France's INSTN, CEA, for cooperation in training and education of nuclear professionals, according to the joint statement.
'In civil nuclear energy cooperation, both sides have concluded a declaration of intent on collaboration in co-designing, co-developing, and co-producing small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors. The two sides will also cooperate in capacity building for researchers and professionals in this field. Given the upcoming AI revolution and its energy demands, this area of cooperation is a promising vector for India-France collaboration,' Misri said.
They also renewed the MoU between the Department of Atomic Energy, India, and the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, France, concerning cooperation with the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership.
PM Modi and Macron expressed satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration in health, culture, tourism, education, and people-to-people ties. They committed to further deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific and in global forums and initiatives, according to the MEA release.
(ANI)