France becomes an important bridge in India-Europe tech cooperation: Modi!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 10th edition of Europe’s biggest tech event VivaTech on Thursday, said that with the beginning of ‘India-France Year of Innovation’ this year, France is playing the role of a bridge in bringing the tech eco-system of India and Europe closer to each other.

In his address, congratulating French President Emmanuel Macron on the success of the VivaTech event, PM Modi said that 2026 has proved to be a special year for both India and Europe. Earlier this year we signed a historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

This agreement will enhance our trade and investment. Also, it will open many avenues for exchange of talent, technology and tourism.

PM Modi further said that in 2021, when I joined VivaTech, the world was facing the turmoil caused by COVID-19. Today, the world is facing another kind of turmoil and I reiterate what I said then at VivaTech 2021, where innovation can help where traditional methods do not work.

In his address, PM Modi said that India has changed rapidly in the last decade and technology has a big role behind this change. From building the world’s largest digital identity system to building the world’s largest digital payments platform, we are using technology extensively in financial inclusion, education, telemedicine, farming and many other sectors.

Giving the example of digital payments, he said that because of our Unified Payments Interface, today half of the world’s real-time digital transactions happen in India. Now you can also use UPI in France such as at the Eiffel Tower or Paris Airport.

We have many examples of such world-class digital public goods. DigiLocker is one of the world’s largest digital document wallets. Through DigiLocker, 70 crore users can access original documents from the original source anytime, anywhere.

We have included over 2,000 standard documents on the DigiLocker platform. Now we do not need to store and search for physical documents like driving license or vehicle registration certificate in India.

PM Modi further said that with more than two lakh start-ups, India is one of the most vibrant eco-systems in the world. I urge all of you to visit India Pavilion.

Here you will experience the tremendous energy of India. Be it the world’s first single-piece 3D printed rocket engine, advanced genetic-engineering therapies, AI solutions that detect cancer and other serious diseases or improve cyber and network security, autonomous robots, smart cities and mobility solutions.

PM Modi said that you will see in the India Pavilion how our start-ups are innovating in an inspiring manner in different sectors.