Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman invited French businesses and investors to expand their investments in India during the India-France Business Roundtable held in Paris on Thursday. She highlighted several sectors with strong growth potential, including artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, healthcare, digital infrastructure and financial services. The meeting focused on strengthening economic cooperation between India and France and encouraging long-term partnerships across key industries.

According to a post by the Ministry of Finance on X, Sitharaman spoke about the changing global economy and the opportunities it offers for India and France. The ministry said she was "setting the context of a rapidly evolving global economy shaped by technological transformation, supply chain diversification, energy transition and geopolitical developments," and highlighted that the India-France Strategic Partnership "is uniquely positioned to drive the next phase of sustainable, resilient and innovation-led growth."

The Finance Minister also stressed the growing role of both countries in the field of artificial intelligence. The Ministry of Finance noted that India and France are "trusted partners in shaping the global AI ecosystem," creating new opportunities for collaboration in trusted AI, digital infrastructure and next-generation technologies.

Sitharaman highlighted the strong progress in economic ties between the two countries. She said trade between India and France has doubled over the past decade. She also appreciated the contribution of nearly 1,000 French companies that currently operate in India. Their presence reflects the growing confidence of French businesses in the Indian market.

She also spoke about India's rapid digital transformation. Sitharaman said India is "a leading digital economy, powered by Digital Public Infrastructure including Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) and India Stack," accounting for "nearly half of the world's real-time digital payments." She said these digital platforms have strengthened the country's economy and created new opportunities for businesses and investors.

The Finance Minister encouraged French companies to increase collaboration in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. She said both countries have complementary strengths in life sciences, vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), clinical research, precision medicine and digital health. She said stronger cooperation in these areas can help build resilient healthcare value chains and support future innovation.

Sitharaman also highlighted India's clean energy plans and the investment opportunities they offer. She referred to the country's target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. She also mentioned the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. She said these initiatives are creating "substantial opportunities for investment in renewable energy, green hydrogen, battery storage, offshore wind and smart grids."

The Finance Minister also spoke about the growth of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). She said it has become a leading global financial hub with more than 1,200 registered entities as of June 2026. It also has banking assets worth USD 111 billion and cumulative banking transactions valued at USD 176 billion. She said the authority offers expanding opportunities in banking, fund management, leasing, Global Capability Centres, reinsurance and sustainable finance.

Sitharaman also highlighted the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) as an attractive investment platform for global investors. She said the fund provides long-term investment opportunities through its upcoming USD 3.5 billion Infrastructure Fund II and USD 1 billion Private Markets Fund II. These funds will support investments in infrastructure, digital infrastructure, green hydrogen, energy transition and several other high-growth sectors.

The Finance Minister invited French businesses and investors to "partner with India in its journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047." She also emphasised the importance of strengthening the India-France Strategic Partnership. She said stronger economic cooperation will help both countries achieve shared prosperity and long-term growth.

According to the Ministry of Finance, representatives from leading French financial institutions also participated in the business roundtable. They shared details of their existing business and investment activities in India. They appreciated India's reforms over the past decade. They also acknowledged the government's efforts to reduce the compliance burden and make doing business easier. The participants offered suggestions to promote deeper and more sustainable investment partnerships between India and France in the coming years.