“PM Modi’s presence at Bharat Innovates is symbol of depth of bilateral relationship”: MEA on PM Modi’s visit to France

By R Anil Kumar

At the invitation of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake an official visit to France from June 13-14 (Nice), and June 16-18 (Evian and Paris), as well as to Slovakia from June 14-16, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

New Delhi/Bengaluru, June 11, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin the France leg of his two-nation visit in Nice on June 13 at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders will hold comprehensive discussions on the full range of bilateral cooperation and international issues, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, June 11.

Addressing a special briefing on the Prime Minister’s visit to France and the Slovak Republic, Additional Secretary (Europe West-EW) in the MEA, Piyush Srivastava said, “This visit is at the invitation of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. I should note that this is a relationship that has been characterised by exceptional warmth, trust, regularity of contact, and a very strong personal rapport between the two leaders.”

He added that, this is Prime Minister Modi’s seventh official visit to France and recalled President Macron’s previous visits to India. He said, “This is the Prime Minister’s seventh official visit to France. You may recall that President Macron visited Mumbai and Delhi in February this year for the AI impact summit.”

Srivastava noted that India and France elevated their relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year. He said, “As you all are aware, the India-France relationship was elevated to a special global strategic partnership in February 2026. Both leaders also inaugurated at that time the India-France Year of Innovation. Before that, Prime Minister Modi co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris in February this year.”

During his visit to Nice, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron will hold bilateral talks covering the entire spectrum of the partnership. He said,” During the visit to Nice, the Prime Minister will hold comprehensive discussions with President Macron, covering the full range of areas of our partnership, as well as they will exchange views on regional and international issues of importance. “

The two leaders will also jointly inaugurate Bharat Innovates, an initiative aimed at presenting India’s innovation ecosystem to a global audience. He said,” Prime Minister Modi will also jointly inaugurate Bharat Innovates along with President Macron. Bharat Innovates is a landmark initiative that showcases India’s innovation journey to a global audience.”

He added, “Our startup ecosystem, deep tech startups, our digital public infrastructure, our advances in defence, space, and clean energy, and contributions of Indian talent to global technology.”

Highlighting the significance of the event, Srivastava said, “The Prime Minister’s presence with President Macron at this event is itself a significant symbol of the depth of the bilateral relationship in the domain of technology and innovation, especially this year, which we are also celebrating as the India-France Year of Innovation.”

The Prime Minister will subsequently travel to Paris, where he will continue bilateral engagements and address the VivaTech Summit, which is Europe’s leading technology and startup conference. He said,” Now I will elaborate on some of the elements of his visit to Paris, which will be the last leg of his visit. He will continue bilateral engagements in Paris, including addressing the VivaTech Summit, which is Europe’s premier technology and startup conference.”

He added, “India has a long association with VivaTech. The Prime Minister had delivered a keynote speech in the fifth edition of the event in 2021.”

He further said that the Prime Minister’s participation is expected to reflect India’s standing as a global technology powerhouse and the depth of the India-France innovation partnership. He said, “Prime Minister’s participation this year is expected to be particularly significant, reflecting both India’s standing as a global technology powerhouse and the depth of the India-France innovation partnership.”

Srivastava said PM Modi and President Macron would also visit the Indian pavilion at VivaTech. He said,” He (PM Modi), along with President Macron, will jointly visit the Indian pavilion at VivaTech, which will be the largest pavilion there this year.”

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian community in Paris during the visit. He said, “Prime Minister Modi will also interact with the members of the Indian community in Paris.”

“First-ever visit by Indian PM to the Slovak Republic since its independence”: MEA on PM Modi’s upcoming visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a historic state visit to Slovakia from June 14 to 16, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Central European nation since its independence in 1993, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, June 11.

Addressing a special briefing on the Prime Minister’s visit to France and the Slovak Republic, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said, “At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, our Prime Minister will pay a state visit to the Slovak Republic from June 14th to 16th. This visit is historic as it would be the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Slovak Republic since its independence in 1993.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Bratislava on June 14 and will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the historic castle the following day before holding delegation-level and one-on-one talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

George said, “Prime Minister will also interact with Slovak business leaders along with the Prime Minister of Slovakia to deepen economic engagement, boost investment flows, and expand cooperation across important sectors such as transportation, renewable energy, emerging technology, and defence production.”

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will also meet the Slovak President Peter Pellegrini at the Presidential Palace, where a state banquet will be hosted in his honour.

Highlighting the growing partnership between the two countries, George said, “India and Slovakia share a very warm and cordial relationship. Bilateral engagements span across multiple sectors, including trade and investment, defence, space, nuclear, digitalisation, cybersecurity, skill development, academic, and cultural exchanges.”

He noted that bilateral ties have gathered momentum through reciprocal high-level exchanges, including the visit of President DroupadiMurmu to Slovakia in April last year and the visit of President Pellegrini to India for the AI Impact Summit in February this year.

George also pointed to the growing Indian presence in Slovakia, saying, “The Indian diaspora in Slovakia has grown in the recent past to around 11,000. Today, I think the Indian diaspora is the second largest diaspora in Slovakia after the Ukrainians.”

The MEA Secretary highlighted close cooperation between the two countries at multilateral forums and recalled Slovakia’s assistance during Operation Ganga in 2022, as well as its condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and expression of solidarity with India.

On economic ties, George said, “Bilateral trade has experienced positive growth, particularly in the last few years. The India-EU FTA will give a new momentum in expanding our trade and investment ties.”

Describing the overall visit as strategically important, George said, “This visit will be a full, highly productive, and strategically significant visit. It encompasses a bilateral summit with one of the most important strategic partners, a visit to a Central European country with which we wish to deepen ties, India’s continued deepening engagement at the G7, and, of course, showcasing India’s innovation story at Bharat Innovates and VivaTech.

This visit will add significant momentum to India’s partnership with France and Slovakia in particular, and with Europe in general, also keeping in view the new momentum with the conclusion of the India-EU FTA. It will also showcase India’s standing as a responsible and constructive global power.”

He added, “The visit to Slovakia is taking place at a very important time with our bilateral relationship on a positive trajectory.”