Macron to attend AI Impact Summit, inaugurate India-France Year of Innovation 2026

NEW DELHI, INDIA: French President Emmanuel Macron will make an official visit to India from February 17–19 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the AI Impact Summit and hold a bilateral summit in Mumbai, the Prime Minister's Office said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Mumbai on Tuesday to meet President Macron, and the two leaders will inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, the statement said.

Around 3:15 pm on February 17, the two leaders will hold bilateral engagements at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai, where they will review progress in the India-France Strategic Partnership. Their discussions will focus on cementing the strategic partnership and further diversifying it into new and emerging areas, and they will exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.

At around 5:15 pm, the two leaders will inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and address a gathering of business leaders, start-ups, researchers and other innovators from both countries.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, in Mumbai, the two leaders will exchange MOUs, followed by a press statement. The Hotel Taj Mahal Palace will host an India-France Innovation Forum, followed by the India-France Year of Innovation and Cultural Commemoration at the Gateway of India.

Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron will visit Mumbai and Delhi during their trip to India from February 16–19, the ministry said.

The Year of Innovation 2026 initiative will be celebrated throughout the year in both countries and aims to deepen collaboration in innovation, technology, research and people-to-people exchanges.

Macron's visit comes against the backdrop of a steadily deepening partnership between India and France across defence, space, civil nuclear energy, climate action, education and people-to-people exchanges, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence cooperation and emerging technologies.

As New Delhi positions itself as the epicentre of the global conversation on artificial intelligence, Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate the Global AI Impact Expo. He welcomed delegates coming to India and highlighted the country's progress in science and technology, saying it has made an indelible contribution to global development.

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.

An unprecedented roster of presidents, prime ministers, crown princes and leading figures from Silicon Valley and beyond will convene at Bharat Mandapam as India hosts the AI Impact Summit 2026.

From February 16 to 20, the Impact Summit, the first international AI summit hosted in the Global South, will showcase New Delhi's ambition to shape an AI future that is inclusive, responsible and impactful. At the core is India's audacious vision for sovereign AI.

By RSS/ANI