Top News

On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron praised India for its innovative capabilities, highlighting the nation's significant influence on global technological advancements. During the Bharat Innovates event in Nice, which he co-launched with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Macron referred to India as a leader in global innovation.

Macron expressed France's dedication to enhancing collaboration with India across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, clean energy, and scientific research. He acknowledged the Make-in-India initiative, stating, "France has been involved in this initiative across multiple industries." He emphasized India's robust innovation ecosystem, skilled workforce, and research prowess, which position it as a key player in technological progress.

"With a population of 1.4 billion, India produces as many engineers annually as Europe and the US combined, exceeding one million. This makes India a frontrunner in research and innovation," he remarked. Macron posed a thought-provoking question: "The real issue is not whether India innovates, but who will collaborate with India?" He expressed pride in hosting the inaugural Bharat Innovates event outside of India.

Macron addressed the rising trend of restricting AI models, stating, "While some may seek to limit cooperation, India and France are committed to a genuine partnership that respects multilingualism and promotes cooperative AI for the common good." He also highlighted the increasing collaboration between the two nations in climate initiatives and energy security, referencing joint efforts like the International Solar Alliance and nuclear energy projects, including the Jaitapur nuclear project and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies.

"Together, we innovate in climate and energy to ensure energy independence and fulfill our COP21 commitments," Macron stated, urging continued collaboration in decarbonized energy, scientific research, and climate resilience.

Emmanuel Macron congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his achievement of becoming India's longest-serving Prime Minister since independence. He remarked, "Your tenure reflects your decisive leadership and the strengths of your nation. We are honored to have you here today." Macron reiterated the importance of an open and collaborative approach to emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, amidst global tendencies to restrict access to advanced AI systems.