Nice (France), June 16 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday addressed the closing ceremony of ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ here, and expressed optimism and confidence in the outcomes achieved over the past three days, reflecting the immense potential of the India-France innovation partnership.

He highlighted how the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, along with their shared vision under the ‘India-France Year of Innovation 2026’, laid the foundation for what has emerged as a truly transformational platform.

“Invited business leaders, CEOs, investors, and innovators to join hands with India in building a brighter and sustainable future powered by innovation at scale,” said Goyal in a post on X.

The minister also visited the iconic Fragonard Factory in Grasse, which offered an inspiring glimpse into its historic legacy that has shaped the global fragrance industry for generations.

“Delighted to interact with leaders from the Grasse Institute of Perfumery and the French fragrance industry. Extended my congratulations to Fragonard as it approaches its centenary celebrations in 2026, and acknowledged the remarkable milestone of PRODAROM completing 300 years in 2024, both reflecting the strength of France’s rich fragrance heritage,” said Goyal.

He discussed the immense opportunities to deepen India’s collaboration across luxury manufacturing, design, and high-value trade.

“By combining France’s expertise with India’s rich heritage, deep traditional knowledge, and skilled workforce, we can unlock new avenues of innovation and position India as a leading force in the premium fragrance and luxury sectors,” he said.

Goyal also launched UPI at the iconic Galeries Lafayette, Nice Massena, France.

“Bringing India’s world-class digital payments platform to one of France’s premier retail destinations marks another significant step in UPI’s global expansion. With the participation of Lyra Collect and NIPL, this initiative showcases India’s ability to deliver trusted, seamless, and interoperable digital solutions at scale. The launch further strengthens the economic and technological ties between India and France, reflecting the growing depth and ambition of our strategic partnership,” he mentioned.

—IANS

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