French President Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, departed from Mumbai for New Delhi following the completion of his commitments in the city, which included holding discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier, Macron engaged in deliberations with Modi to enhance and consolidate the strategic partnership between India and France.
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The French president and his wife engaged in lively discussions with some of India's leading filmmakers and actors on matters related to cinema, culture, and potential collaborations during their visit to Mumbai.
Currently, President Macron is currently engaged in an official trip to India spanning from February 17 to 19, having been graciously invited by Prime Minister Modi for the purpose of attending the AI Impact Summit organized by India in its capital city of Delhi, in addition to engaging in a bilateral summit in Mumbai.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to officially open the summit on February 19th. The inaugural session will be attended by a significant number of dignitaries, including French President Macron, according to Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan.
The recent visit is a result of New Delhi's announcement of plans to procure Rafale jets and the successful negotiation of a significant free trade agreement between India and the European Union earlier this year.
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Over the last ten years, New Delhi has endeavored to decrease its reliance on Russia, a longstanding primary provider of military hardware, by diversifying its sources and advocating for increased domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Last week, a public announcement from the Indian Ministry of Defense revealed that the acquisition of Rafale jets has received approval, specifying that a significant portion of the fleet will be produced within India.
If concluded, the acquisition of these jets would supplement the 36 Rafales that India procured for its air force in 2016, as well as the 26 that have been commissioned for its navy.
The French presidency remains hopeful that a "historic" agreement can be reached, pending the conclusion of negotiations with manufacturer Dassault Aviation for the acquisition of additional aircraft. This week's discussions will also focus on addressing the global economic instability resulting from tariff measures implemented by President Donald Trump of the United States, as well as China's growing influence in the surrounding region.
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The announcement from Modi's office emphasized that the upcoming discussions will center on strengthening the strategic partnership and expanding it into various new and emerging fields. Trade between France and India, primarily focused on defense and aerospace industries, amounts to approximately EUR15 billion ($18 billion) each year. The commercial fleet of India is equipped with a significant number of Airbus aircraft, contributing significantly to this trade volume.