India-France trade push opens new investment opportunities for West Bengal: ICC

New Delhi: Fresh momentum in India-France economic relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to France could create new opportunities for trade and investment in West Bengal, industry leaders and French officials said during a meeting held in Kolkata on Monday.

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The discussions, hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, brought together representatives from the French diplomatic mission, the Indo-French business community and industry stakeholders to explore avenues for strengthening economic cooperation and attracting French investments to the state.

Among those present were Thierry Morel, Florent Mangin, Dana Brahimi, Estelle David and Payal Kanwar.

The meeting assumed significance in the wake of Modi's visit to France, during which India and France announced 19 agreements spanning innovation, artificial intelligence, civil nuclear energy, trade and other strategic sectors.

According to a statement issued after the discussions, the two countries have adopted a roadmap to double bilateral trade over the next five years, alongside the launch of an Innovation Roadmap 2030, initiatives to promote start-up collaboration, and enhanced cooperation in digital governance and scientific research.

Senior Vice President of ICC, Parthiv Neotia, said West Bengal stands to benefit from the renewed thrust in India-France relations.

He noted that upcoming economic policy initiatives by the West Bengal government could create a favourable environment for French companies seeking to expand their presence in India. Neotia also emphasised the scope for partnerships aligned with the broader framework of cooperation agreed between the two countries.

Participants highlighted the importance of positioning West Bengal to benefit from the proposed mechanism aimed at increasing bilateral trade between India and France from the current level of around USD 16 billion to nearly USD 32 billion over the next five years.

Industry representatives pointed to West Bengal's strong export performance, strategic location and evolving industrial ecosystem as key factors that could attract French investment. The state exported goods worth more than USD 12 billion in FY25 and hosts over 2,000 recognised start-ups, according to ICC.

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The chamber also underlined West Bengal's role as a gateway to Northeast India and the BIMSTEC region, which could further strengthen its appeal as a destination for international businesses looking to expand across South and Southeast Asia.

The discussions reflected growing interest among French businesses in exploring opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing, innovation, technology, logistics and start-up ecosystems, as India and France deepen their strategic and economic partnership.

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