With an aim to deepen the India-France strategic partnership, strengthen economic cooperation, and promote investment, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is on a four-day official visit to France, where she will participate in a series of high-level engagements. A key highlight of the visit will be the India-France Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in Aix-en-Provence, which she will co-chair alongside France’s Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Energy Sovereignty, Roland Lescure. During the dialogue, both countries are likely to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors and further strengthening economic ties between India and France.
As part of visit, Sitharaman will hold one-on-one meetings with select global chief executive officers and participate in a roundtable discussion with leading business executives. These engagements will provide an opportunity to showcase India’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, ongoing structural reforms, expanding investment opportunities, and long-term growth potential. The Finance Minister will also participate in a panel discussion titled “How to Promote the Growth of a New Middle Class” at Les Rencontres Economiques d’Aix-en-Provence, one of Europe’s premier annual forums focused on global economic and public policy issues.
In addition, Sitharaman will visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project at Cadarache, one of the world’s largest international scientific collaborations in nuclear fusion, involving more than 30 partner countries, including India and France. She will also visit Campus Cyber, France’s national hub for cybersecurity innovation, research, and skill development, where discussions are likely to focus on sharing best practices for strengthening cyber resilience and fostering innovation in the digital economy. Furthermore, she is scheduled to meet Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur (PACA) Region, to discuss collaboration in areas such as investment, innovation, clean energy, technology, and regional economic partnerships. During the visit, the Finance Minister will also interact with members of the Indian diaspora in France.
