India and France have identified critical minerals, economic security, cross-investments and high-speed rail as key areas for deeper cooperation during the India-France Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) held in Aix-en-Provence. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and France's Economy Minister Roland Lescure co-chaired the dialogue, which marked the resumption of high-level economic engagements under the India-France strategic partnership. According to an official statement, both sides discussed advancing cooperation on critical minerals as part of a broader conversation on economic sovereignty and security policies. The ministers also explored ways to boost cross-border investments, expand collaboration in the high-speed railway sector following the recent declaration of intent on railways, and strengthen financial sector linkages between the two countries.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman invited French businesses and investors to partner with India in its journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047, emphasising the need to strengthen the India-France Strategic Partnership and work towards shared prosperity for both countries. Addressing an India-France Business Roundtable in Paris on Thursday, she urged French investors to explore partnerships in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology by leveraging the two countries' complementary strengths in life sciences, vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), clinical research, precision medicine and digital health to build resilient healthcare value chains. The minister highlighted that India-France bilateral trade has doubled in the past decade, presenting new opportunities for stronger bilateral collaboration in the evolving global economic landscape shaped by technological transformation, supply chain diversification, energy transition and geopolitical developments.
Sitharaman highlighted India's ambitious clean energy transition, including the target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, which offer significant investment opportunities in renewable energy, green hydrogen, battery storage, offshore wind and smart grids. She also emphasized the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), saying its proposed $3.5 billion Infrastructure Fund II and $1 billion Private Markets Fund II offer long-term investment opportunities across infrastructure, digital infrastructure, green hydrogen, energy transition and other high-growth sectors. The Finance Minister also pitched India's financial ecosystem, stating that the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has emerged as a leading global financial hub, with over 1,200 registered entities as of June 2026, banking assets of $111 billion and cumulative banking transactions worth $176 billion.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concluded her four-day visit to France on Wednesday, successfully strengthening the India-France strategic partnership and enhancing economic cooperation. According to the finance ministry press statement, the visit aimed to promote investment, technology collaboration and innovation between the two countries. The mission focused on showcasing India's robust macroeconomic fundamentals, ongoing structural reforms, expanding investment opportunities and long-term growth prospects to global business leaders. The visit concluded with an interaction with members of the Indian diaspora in France, reflecting the government's continued engagement with the overseas Indian community while reinforcing people-to-people ties between the two countries.
A significant highlight of the visit was Sitharaman's visit to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project at Cadarache, one of the world's largest international scientific collaborations on nuclear fusion energy involving more than 30 partner countries, including India and France. The visit is expected to reinforce scientific and technological cooperation between the two nations. Additionally, the Finance Minister visited Campus Cyber, France's national centre for cybersecurity innovation, research and skill development, where she explored opportunities for collaboration in strengthening cyber resilience, digital innovation and technology partnerships. These visits focused on collaboration in areas including clean energy, scientific research and cybersecurity.
Sitharaman met Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) Region, and discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest including investment, innovation, clean energy, technology and regional economic partnerships. The finance minister will also represent India at Les Rencontres Économiques d'Aix-en-Provence, one of Europe's most prominent forums on economic and public policy. She is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion titled 'How to Promote the Growth of a New Middle Class', where global policymakers, economists, central bankers, academics and business leaders will deliberate on emerging economic challenges and inclusive growth strategies. The visit highlights New Delhi's broader strategy of deepening partnerships with key global economies and attracting greater foreign investment while reinforcing cooperation in next-generation sectors such as clean energy, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.
