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Business Standard
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) and MIDC sign an MOU to encourage French Investments in the state of Maharashtra
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 16: The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) signed an MOU with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to facilitate investments from France into Maharashtra. An initial MoU was signed in September 2021 and this renewal was signed during a high-level roundtable discussion organized on, 'The Ease of Doing Business in Maharashtra' held in the presence of over 25 CEOs from top French companies operating in sectors such as automotive, renewable energy, chemicals, IT, transport, consumer goods, construction etc. The MoU was signed by P. Velrasu, CEO, MIDC and Benoit Renard, Vice President, IFCCI and Managing Director, Air Liquide India. The MoU aims to: * Enhance bilateral trade and investment flows between France and Maharashtra * Facilitate the entry of new French companies into the State * Support the expansion of existing French businesses in Maharashtra * Foster a conducive industrial environment aligned with Maharashtra's Ease of Doing Business initiatives On this occasion, Payal S. Kanwar, Director General, IFCCI stated that, "France has deep economic interests in the State of Maharashtra and is committed to enhance its positioning towards investments and job creation into the state; the renewal of the MOU with MIDC is a testimony of the growing interest and expansion of French companies in the state of Maharashtra and we look forward to building a strong partnership." Shri P. Velrasu, CEO, MIDC welcomed the initiative and noted that such forums are very important for MIDC to help industries and ensure an inclusive environment. Shri P Velrasu welcomed the MoU between the two organizations and also noted that the forums should regularly convene to bring more momentum and allow MIDC to help solve industry issues. He also assured the industries representatives that MIDC is dedicated to addressing the issues of industries and is actively taking steps to bring ease of doing business in the state. The roundtable discussion served as a platform for French industry leaders to engage in a constructive deliberation and dialogue with MIDC, sharing on-ground experiences and recommendations to further streamline business operations and investment processes in the State. The renewal of the IFCCI-MIDC partnership is a pivotal step in strengthening the Indo-French industrial corridor, fostering innovation, sustainable growth, and mutual prosperity. The MoU was signed in the presence of Hon'ble Deputy Consul, Sami Bouakaze, Consulate General of France in India and Benoit Gauthier, Minister Counsellor for Economic and Financial Affairs & Head, Regional Economic Department, Embassy of France in India along with top key French investors and business leaders who were present for the event. About IFCCI Established in 1977, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry belongs to a worldwide network of 124 French Chambers (CCIFI) in 95 countries with over 37,000 companies. One of the most active bilateral chambers in India, the Indo-French Chamber is a not-for-profit association that promotes mutually beneficial trade relations between India & France. IFCCI represents a dynamic business platform of close to 800 company members with 17 sector & function led committees with a total network of more than 8000 individual members. Headquartered in Mumbai, IFCCI has five other offices in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-France AI summit held, highlights need for ethical and inclusive AI collaboration
Representative Image The La French Tech India AI Summit 2025 was recently held in Bengaluru bringing together leaders from government, industry, startups, and academia from India and France to strengthen collaboration on artificial intelligence. Organised by La French Tech India in partnership with IFCCI, Business France, the Consulate General of France in Bangalore, and CCEF, the summit reinforced the growing strategic partnership between the two countries ahead of the India-France Year of Innovation in 2026 . The event focused on building a shared vision for inclusive AI innovation, public interest technology, and stronger international cooperation. France's Minister of State for Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz, opened the summit with a video message, followed by remarks from Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, and Ajay Krishnan, Vice President of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM). They encouraged open, constructive dialogue on how AI can be used to meet broader social goals. Sharad Sharma, Co-Founder of iSPIRT, delivered the keynote address and urged India and France to co-develop an AI model that combines innovation with ethical responsibility. A panel discussion, moderated by Madhusha Mishra of Link, featured industry leaders Dr. Gaurav Aggarwal (Jio Reliance), Partha Rao ( Amit Pingle (Michelin Innovation Lab), and Umakant Soni (AI Foundry), who discussed real-world applications of AI and how the two countries can scale solutions that address practical needs. In the second half of the summit, speakers addressed ethical challenges in AI. Hari Subramanian, Fellow at NitiAI and iSPIRT, presented guiding principles to build public trust in emerging technologies. Mehak Kasbekar of Brut India delivered a keynote on the media's responsibility in shaping public narratives around technology. A panel led by Rajesh Desai of Lyra India brought together Olivier Flous (Thales), Astha Kapoor (Aapti Institute), Shiv Kumar DVS (OVH), and Sachin Kumar (QpiAi) to explore how to build AI systems that respect human values and serve the greater good. The summit highlighted how France's deeptech capabilities and ethical frameworks can complement India's scale, digital infrastructure, and talent, paving the way for a collaborative and responsible global AI model . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
