The North News
Chandigarh, February 12
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the 14th India-France CEOs Forum in Paris on Tuesday, calling for stronger economic cooperation between the two nations. The forum, attended by business leaders from both countries, focused on key sectors including defence, aerospace, infrastructure, emerging technologies, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.
Modi underscored India’s growing appeal as a global investment destination, attributing it to a stable political environment and a predictable policy framework. He pointed to recent economic reforms, including the opening of India’s insurance sector to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) and private sector participation in civil nuclear energy, particularly in small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced modular reactor (AMR) technologies. Other measures, such as a rationalised customs rate structure and a simplified income tax regime, were aimed at improving the ease of living and doing business in India, he said.
Highlighting his government’s commitment to regulatory reform, Modi noted that a high-level committee had been established to streamline business regulations, with more than 40,000 compliance requirements scrapped in recent years.
The Prime Minister invited French businesses to explore opportunities in India’s expanding economy, particularly in defence, energy, civil aviation, fintech, and sustainable development. He also encouraged French companies to participate in India’s newly launched initiatives in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technology, critical minerals, and hydrogen energy.
“India is being increasingly recognised for its skilled workforce, technological innovation, and policy-driven economic growth. We welcome France’s participation in this journey of mutual growth and prosperity,” Modi said.
Also present at the forum were India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, and Finance Minister Eric Lombard.
Earlier in the day, Modi arrived in Marseille, where he was scheduled to inaugurate an Indian consulate, which he said would deepen people-to-people ties between India and France. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he added that he would also pay tribute to Indian soldiers who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars.
