Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the VivaTech summit in Paris to showcase India's growing influence in artificial intelligence and innovation [1].
The visit signals India's intent to strengthen economic and technology ties with France and Europe while positioning itself as a global leader in AI development [3].
Modi arrived in Paris after concluding the G7 summit in Evian as part of a two-nation tour [1, 2]. During the event at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, India served as the official AI Country Partner [1, 3]. Modi participated in sessions with French President Emmanuel Macron and met with several French CEOs to discuss economic collaboration [2, 3].
Among the meetings was a discussion with Saint-Gobain CEO Benoît Bazin. Bazin said, "We look forward to discussing collaboration on AI and sustainable technologies" [2]. The engagement focused on bridging the gap between Indian startups and European industrial expertise.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the significance of the partnership. Misri said, "India was the AI country of focus at VivaTech this year" [3]. The summit provided a platform for the Prime Minister to reaffirm India's positions on global issues while promoting the nation's digital public infrastructure.
While some reports associated the event with a 2026 edition [2], other official statements from the Foreign Secretary placed the participation in May 2024 [3]. The visit emphasized the strategic alignment between New Delhi and Paris regarding emerging technologies.
“India was the AI country of focus at VivaTech this year.”
By securing the role of AI Country Partner at VivaTech, India is attempting to pivot its global image from a service-provider hub to a primary innovator in artificial intelligence. This strategic alignment with France suggests a move to diversify technology partnerships beyond the U.S. and East Asia, leveraging European industrial ties to scale Indian AI startups.
