Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris late Wednesday night as part of his ongoing Europe visit and received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora. People gathered outside his hotel to greet him, with the Prime Minister interacting with community members and children before beginning his engagements in the French capital.

Modi is scheduled to attend the major European technology event, VivaTech 2026, on Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron is also expected to participate in the conference, which brings together technology companies, startups, investors, innovators, and policymakers from around the world.

The Prime Minister's visit comes immediately after his participation in the 52nd G7 Summit held in Évian-les-Bains, where India attended as a guest nation. During the summit, Modi held several bilateral meetings with world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.

The visit highlights India's growing engagement with global technology and innovation ecosystems at a time when artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and emerging technologies are becoming central to international economic cooperation.

Focus on Technology and Innovation

VivaTech is considered one of Europe's largest technology conferences and serves as a platform for showcasing innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, green technology, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship.

An India Pavilion has also been established at the event to showcase Indian startups, technological advancements, and innovation-led initiatives. The pavilion is expected to highlight India's expanding role in the global startup ecosystem and digital economy.

Officials said the event provides an opportunity for Indian companies and innovators to connect with international investors and technology leaders.

Bilateral Engagements at G7

Ahead of his Paris engagements, Modi attended the G7 Summit, where discussions focused on global economic growth, energy security, technology partnerships, trade, and geopolitical challenges.

During the summit, Modi met several world leaders, including Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Friedrich Merz, Ursula von der Leyen, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Mark Carney.

The meetings reportedly covered issues related to investment, energy cooperation, trade expansion, technology partnerships, and regional security.

Slovakia Honor and France Agreements

Before attending the G7 Summit, Modi visited Slovakia, where he was conferred the country's highest civilian honour, the Order of the White Double Cross (First Class), by Peter Pellegrini.

Earlier in France, Modi and Macron held bilateral talks in Nice. According to official statements, the two leaders discussed cooperation in defence, trade, technology, education, and space. Several agreements were signed, and both countries launched a new Economic Security Dialogue aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties.

Why the Visit Matters

India's participation in both the G7 Summit and VivaTech underscores its growing global influence in economic and technological affairs. The Paris visit is expected to strengthen India-France cooperation in innovation, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and strategic industries.

As global competition intensifies in emerging technologies, India's presence at VivaTech 2026 is likely to provide new opportunities for startups, investors, and technology partnerships while reinforcing the country's position as a leading innovation hub.