New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the French Mediterranean city of Nice has resulted in a broad package of bilateral outcomes, with India
and France signing 19 agreements spanning a wide range of strategic and economic areas. PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held detailed bilateral discussions covering innovation, artificial intelligence, trade and investment, sustainability, security, culture and people-to-people ties, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The two leaders also jointly inaugurated the ‘Bharat Innovates’ event, with PM Modi expressing gratitude to his “friend” Macron for participating in the initiative.
Today’s talks with my friend, President Macron were exceptionally productive. Considering the longstanding friendship between our nations, we have decided to elevate our ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.
Our talks covered ways to deepen cooperation in key sectors… pic.twitter.com/u5qHR1f9Cz
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2026
UPI to expand at Paris airport and Nice
One of the more practical outcomes of the visit was the announcement of UPI’s expansion to Paris airport and Nice, a move that significantly extends India’s digital payments footprint in Europe. The initiative is designed to improve the payment experience for the large number of Indian tourists, students, diaspora members, business travellers and official delegations who pass through French airports and cities. It also positions India’s UPI model, known for being secure, low-cost and highly scalable, as a credible digital payments solution in the European market, where India has been steadily building its technology brand.
Wide-ranging cooperation across sectors
Beyond digital payments, the bilateral meeting produced outcomes across innovation and AI, science and space, startups and fintech, trade and infrastructure, mobility and health, reflecting the depth and breadth of the India-France partnership. The two leaders also exchanged views on key international and regional issues, though specific details were not immediately disclosed by the ministry. The 19 agreements signed during the visit represent one of the most substantive sets of bilateral outcomes from an India-France summit in recent years, strengthening the Special Global Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
