EAM S. Jaishankar Highlights AI, Innovation, and Economic Ties at India-France CEO Meeting

By A Staff Reporter

Paris, France: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, addressing the 14th India-France CEO meeting, underscored the need for trust and transparency in the digital era while highlighting the immense potential for collaboration in artificial intelligence, software development, and cybersecurity.

“We are meeting on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit. The digital era calls for trust and transparency—attributes that India and France share. This summit is a reminder of the vast opportunities in AI, software, and cybersecurity,” Jaishankar stated.

He also pointed to the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026 as a platform for strengthening technological partnerships. Stressing the importance of shaping global discussions on AI, he remarked, “Only a multipolar world can ensure that AI develops with the least bias. We need diversified production, reliable and resilient supply chains, and deeper business collaborations.”

Jaishankar urged business leaders to contribute to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and spoke about India’s rapid clean energy transition. “A clean energy transition is underway in India, just as in other parts of the world,” he said.

Highlighting India’s infrastructure transformation, he noted, “There are very few places where infrastructure is changing as rapidly as in India. You see this in our railways, airports, highways, and ports.”

Jaishankar also emphasized the strategic significance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), calling it a “game changer” for economic ties between India and France.