Nirmala Sitharaman begins four-day France visit; India-France Economic Dialogue, CEO meetings to focus on investment, technology and strategic ties
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday embarked on a four-day official visit to France to deepen the India-France Strategic Partnership through a series of high-level engagements centred on investment, economic cooperation, technology, innovation and clean energy. The visit comes as India seeks to strengthen economic ties with key global partners amid an evolving geopolitical and trade landscape.
A key highlight of the visit will be the India-France Economic & Financial Dialogue (EFD) at Aix-en-Provence, where Sitharaman will co-chair discussions with France's Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Energy Sovereignty, Roland Lescure. The dialogue is expected to explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors while advancing the two countries' economic partnership.
CEO meetings to showcase India's investment story
As part of her engagements, Sitharaman will hold one-on-one meetings with select global chief executive officers and participate in a roundtable with leading business executives to present India's macroeconomic strengths, ongoing structural reforms, expanding investment opportunities and long-term growth prospects.
The interactions are aimed at reinforcing India's position as one of the world's fastest-growing major economies and attracting greater foreign investment across manufacturing, technology, infrastructure and emerging sectors.
The finance minister will also participate in a panel discussion titled "How to Promote the Growth of a New Middle Class" at Les Rencontres Économiques d'Aix-en-Provence, one of Europe's premier annual forums on global economic and public policy. Organised by Le Cercle des économistes, the event brings together heads of government, ministers, central bankers, economists, business leaders, academics and representatives of international organisations to deliberate on key global economic challenges.
Focus on nuclear fusion, cybersecurity and clean energy
Beyond financial and economic discussions, Sitharaman's itinerary includes visits to two of France's leading technology and research institutions.
She will tour the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project at Cadarache, one of the world's largest scientific collaborations on nuclear fusion energy involving more than 30 partner countries, including India and France. The project is regarded as a landmark global effort to develop fusion as a sustainable source of clean energy.
The finance minister will also visit Campus Cyber, France's national hub for cybersecurity innovation, research, skill development and collaboration among government, industry and academia. The visit is expected to facilitate exchanges on strengthening cyber resilience, advancing digital innovation and sharing best practices in securing digital infrastructure.
Regional cooperation and diaspora outreach
Sitharaman is also scheduled to meet Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) Region, to discuss opportunities for expanding collaboration in investment, innovation, clean energy, technology and regional economic partnerships.
The visit will conclude with an interaction with members of the Indian diaspora in France.
The four-day visit underscores New Delhi's efforts to broaden the scope of its economic engagement with France beyond traditional strategic cooperation. By combining high-level policy dialogue with industry outreach and technology-focused engagements, the visit seeks to strengthen bilateral collaboration in emerging sectors while reinforcing investor confidence in India's long-term growth trajectory.