Media365
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday embarked on a four-day official visit to France, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening its strategic economic partnership with France through high-level discussions on trade, investment, technology, innovation and financial cooperation.
The visit comes at a time when India and France are seeking to expand collaboration across emerging sectors, with New Delhi positioning itself as a major global investment destination amid sustained economic growth and ongoing structural reforms.
A key highlight of the visit will be the India-France Economic & Financial Dialogue (EFD), which Sitharaman will co-chair with Roland Lescure in Aix-en-Provence. The dialogue is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral economic ties and identifying new opportunities for cooperation across sectors such as finance, investment, industrial development, technology and energy.
Apart from the ministerial dialogue, Sitharaman will hold one-on-one meetings with select global CEOs and participate in a roundtable with leading business executives. The discussions are aimed at showcasing India’s robust macroeconomic fundamentals, policy reforms, expanding investment ecosystem and long-term growth potential to global investors.
The finance minister will also represent India at Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence, one of Europe’s most prominent forums on economic and public policy. She is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion titled “How to Promote the Growth of a New Middle Class,” where global policymakers, economists, central bankers, academics and business leaders will deliberate on emerging economic challenges and inclusive growth strategies.
As part of her official engagements, Sitharaman will visit ITER at Cadarache, one of the world’s largest international scientific collaborations on nuclear fusion energy. The ITER project involves more than 30 partner countries, including India and France, and is aimed at advancing clean and sustainable fusion energy technologies.
The Union Finance Minister will also tour Campus Cyber, a dedicated centre for cybersecurity innovation, research, skill development and collaboration between government, industry and academia. The visit is expected to facilitate exchanges on strengthening cyber resilience, promoting digital innovation and sharing best practices in cybersecurity.
In another significant engagement, Sitharaman will meet Renaud Muselier to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in investment, clean energy, innovation, technology and regional economic partnerships.
The finance minister will conclude her visit with an interaction with members of the Indian diaspora in France, highlighting India’s continued efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties alongside expanding bilateral economic engagement.
The visit highlights New Delhi’s broader strategy of deepening partnerships with key global economies and attracting greater foreign investment while reinforcing cooperation in next-generation sectors such as clean energy, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.
