Mumbai, 30 September 2026: The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) convened its 49th
Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai, in the presence of H.E. Mr
Philippe Baptiste, French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space,
and H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India.
Held under the theme “Driving Innovation
for Global Impact” at the St. Regis Hotel, the AGM brought together more
than 400 senior business leaders, government officials and diplomats to discuss
how innovation and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are reshaping the economic
ties between the two countries.
In his keynote address, H.E. Mr Philippe
Baptiste, French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space, said:
“This year, we have moved from high-level commitments to concrete outcomes,
from the inauguration of the Indo-French Centre for AI in Health at AIIMS, New
Delhi, to new partnerships between Paris-Saclay University and IIT Bombay for
dual degrees and joint research. In February, during President Macron's visit
to India, we elevated our relationship to a Special Global Strategic
Partnership, a vision in which innovation becomes the lever of our shared
objectives. India and France share a common ambition: to become leaders in
sovereign innovation, capable of addressing global challenges such as climate
change, health and digital security.”
Addressing the gathering, H.E. Mr Thierry
Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, said: “France and India share an
economic partnership anchored in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
Businesses from both countries are working together across an ever-wider range
of sectors, from advanced manufacturing and energy to technology and services,
illustrating the strengthening of our cooperation. What stands out most is how
this cooperation has developed a strong foundation in trade and investment for
co-development, with French and Indian companies designing products,
technologies and solutions together. Building of the achievements of the
India-France Year of Innovation, I am confident this relationship will grow in
both reach and ambition in the years ahead. The upcoming signing of the
EU-India FTA will deliver unprecedented opportunities to deepen this economic
relationship even further.”
The AGM’s statutory proceedings saw Mr
Sanjay Singh, IFCCI Treasurer and CEO & Head of Territory, BNP Paribas
India, present the Chamber’s financial performance for the year, followed
by the announcement of IFCCI’s newly elected Governing Council. Welcoming
members, Mr Jean Touboul, President of IFCCI and CEO of Pernod Ricard India,
set out the Chamber’s priorities for the year ahead.
“This year’s 49th AGM brought the Indo-French business community together at a time when its appetite for collaboration is stronger than I have seen in years. Businesses are also watching the EU-India FTA closely, and once signed, it could give the community another meaningful lever to expand trade and investment. All of this comes just a year before IFCCI turns 50, and the community we represent is approaching that milestone with real momentum,” said Mr Jean Touboul, President, IFCCI and CEO Pernod Ricard.
Two panel discussions anchored the business agenda. The first, “Global
Shifts, Global Opportunities: The Power of Innovation,” moderated by Mr
Manoj Gidwani, Senior Vice President, Nexdigm, brought together Mr Dilkhush
Cooper (BNP Paribas India), Mr Deepak NG (Dassault Systèmes India), Mr Anish
Damania (JM Financial Ltd), Mr Venu Shanbhag (Grindwell Norton Ltd,
Saint-Gobain) and Dr Sangkaran Ratnam (TotalEnergies Gas and Power Projects
India), who discussed how companies across finance, technology, industrials and
energy are positioning themselves amid shifting global conditions.
The second, “GCCs as Innovation Engines:
Drivers for Global Impact,” moderated by Mr Hardeep Sachdeva, Senior
Partner, AZB & Partners, turned to the growing role of Global Capability
Centres in the India-France relationship. Panellists Mr Vivek Jaykrishnan
(ALTEN India), Ms Prashanthi Thorat (AXA Global Business Services), Mr Sanjay
Chalke (Capgemini India), Mr Stéphane Deblaise (Renault Group India) and Mr
Deepak Arora (Sanofi India) discussed how GCCs have moved beyond delivery
operations to become centres of product development, research and innovation,
highlighting the strategic weight they carry for French companies in India.
“With more than 800 member companies, IFCCI’s
network within the India-France business community has never been stronger. It
reflects a relationship that is increasingly growing in both directions. With
significant progress on the EU-India FTA this year, our focus now turns to
implementation and to helping businesses translate the agreement into tangible
opportunities. We are working closely with our members to support this process
and, as we approach our 50th anniversary, our priority is to ensure that the
Chamber is well positioned for the decade ahead.,” said Ms Payal S. Kanwar,
Director General, IFCCI.
IFCCI continues to serve as a principal
institutional platform connecting Indian and French businesses, government
bodies and diplomatic missions. Building on the discussions at the 49th
AGM, the Chamber said it would carry the themes of innovation and global
collaboration forward into its sectoral committees and member programmes over
the year ahead.
About Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (IFCCI)
Established in 1977 as a not-for-profit
organization, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry belongs to the
CCI France International network of 121 French Chambers in 98 countries with
over 36,000 companies, and represents a dynamic business platform of 800+
company members and 6,500+ individual members.
IFCCI works closely with French and Indian
companies, government institutions and other stakeholders on investment
promotion, business facilitation, B2B and B2G engagements, institutional
partnerships and policy dialogue, and has supported French companies in
establishing and expanding their presence in India.
The Chamber has six offices across India –
Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune; and an office in
Paris, France.
For more information, please visit https://www.ifcci.org.in/
Press contacts: priyank.prakash@ifcci.org.in
| rishika.roy@ifcci.org.in