NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday departed for a two-nation visit to Europe, with stops in France and Slovakia.His visit to France will be split into two legs, with a stop in Slovakia in between. The Slovakia trip will mark the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country since it gained independence in 1993.France (June 13-14, June 15-19)During the first leg of his France visit, the prime minister will travel to Nice for a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday. The two leaders are expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties, which were elevated to a Special Global Strategic Partnership during Macron’s visit to India in February.They will also jointly inaugurate the ‘Bharat Innovates’ event, bringing together leading start-ups and venture capital funds from India, France and other countries. Held as part of the India-France Year of Innovation, the flagship event underscores the strong innovation partnership between the two nations, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.After returning to France from Slovakia, PM Modi will attend the G7 Summit in Evian on June 16 and 17. He is expected to exchange views with G7 leaders as well as leaders from invited partner countries and international organisations.On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders.On June 18, the final day of his visit, PM Modi will travel to Paris for further bilateral engagements and to participate in the VivaTech Summit, Europe’s largest technology and start-up event. He is also expected to address members of the Indian community in the French capital.Slovakia (June 14 and 15)In Slovakia, PM Modi will hold talks with Slovak counterpart Robert Fico and explore ways to deepen bilateral cooperation. He is also scheduled to meet Slovak President Peter Pellegrini.The visit is expected to reaffirm India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Slovakia across key sectors, including trade, investment, and automobile and railway manufacturing.The prime minister’s trip comes on the heels of President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and President Pellegrini’s visit to India for the AI Impact Summit earlier this year, in February.
