Nice, France, June 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the French city of Nice on Saturday, beginning a two-nation European tour that includes visits to France and Slovakia, along with participation in the G7 Summit.
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was received by senior French officials, including Minister of Education Edouard Geffray, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste, and France’s Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou.
The visit to France commenced with preparations for a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation across strategic, economic, technological and global issues following the recent elevation of India-France ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership.
During the visit, the two leaders are also scheduled to jointly launch Bharat Innovates 2026, a three-day innovation conclave aimed at bringing together startups, investors and technology leaders from India, France and other countries. The event is expected to promote collaboration in emerging technologies and innovation-driven sectors.
Following his engagements in France, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Slovakia for a state visit from June 14 to 15. The visit will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister since Slovakia gained independence in 1993.
In Bratislava, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. Discussions are likely to focus on bilateral cooperation, trade, investment and India’s broader engagement with the European Union. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to interact with business leaders during the visit.
Prime Minister Modi will return to France on June 16 to participate in the G7 Summit in Evian. The summit, which will continue through June 17, will bring together leaders of major economies to discuss key global challenges. On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold several bilateral meetings, including a meeting with United States President Donald Trump.
Ahead of the visit, the Prime Minister stated that India’s participation in the G7 Summit reflects growing international confidence in the country’s role on global issues. He noted that this is the eighth consecutive G7 Summit to which India has been invited and said the country would continue to represent not only its own interests but also the concerns and aspirations of the Global South.
The final leg of the tour will take Prime Minister Modi to Paris on June 18, where he is expected to attend the VivaTech 2026 technology exhibition alongside President Macron and interact with members of the Indian diaspora.
The visit is expected to further strengthen India’s strategic partnerships with France and Slovakia while advancing cooperation with the European Union and other global partners.