Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has invited French companies to strengthen their presence in India, highlighting the country as a trusted global partner offering scale, talent, innovation and manufacturing opportunities.
Speaking at the ‘Bharat Innovates’ event in Nice in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, Goyal urged French businesses to “invest in India, design in India, innovate in India and manufacture in India” for both the domestic market and global exports.
Emphasising India’s growing role in the global economy, the minister said countries are increasingly seeking reliable economic partners, adding that India offers a stable and trusted destination for investment and business expansion.
Goyal also highlighted the country’s thriving innovation ecosystem, noting that India’s startup landscape has expanded to over 2.3 lakh startups, making innovation a key driver of economic growth and entrepreneurship.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a visit to France, where he is expected to hold bilateral discussions with President Macron and participate in the G7 Summit. The visit is part of a broader week-long tour that also includes Slovakia.
India–France economic ties continue to strengthen, with bilateral trade reaching USD 15.81 billion in 2025-26, up from USD 15.19 billion in the previous fiscal year. France remains a significant investor in India, ranking among the country’s top foreign investors with cumulative FDI inflows of USD 12.25 billion between April 2000 and March 2025.
The invitation reflects India’s continued push to position itself as a global manufacturing and innovation hub while deepening economic cooperation with key international partners.