Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France to co-chair the AI summit, Coumar Ananda, President of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry France-India, revealed that trade between India and France has risen slightly to USD 20 billion, up from the previous range of USD 15-18 billion. The majority of this trade remains concentrated in the defense and aerospace sectors.
Ananda explained, “Trade between the two countries has been just under USD 20 billion, up from the earlier range of USD 15-18 billion. Most of the transactions have been focused on defense, aircraft, and aerospace industries.”
He also pointed out the potential for growth in trade, noting an imbalance in the number of Indian companies in France. “There are fewer than 100 Indian companies operating in France, while over a thousand French companies have established a presence in India, with some having been there for over a century. This shows the untapped opportunities for Indian companies in France,” Ananda said.
Ananda emphasized the openness from France to Indian investors, stating, “Today, France has laid out the red carpet for Indian investors, and this opportunity is not limited to specific industries but extends across the country—not just in the Paris region, but nationwide. For us, this is India’s moment in France. There is strong interest from both sides to collaborate more.”
Prime Minister Modi will co-chair the AI Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and will also address the India-France CEOs forum during his visit to France, scheduled from February 10 to 12.
In a recent briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the growing significance of Artificial Intelligence, underscoring India’s expectation that AI applications be developed, deployed, and used in a safe, responsible, and ethical manner.
This will be Prime Minister Modi’s sixth official visit to France.
