Feb. 12, Marseille, France On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the inauguration of an Indian Consulate in Marseille as a “historic moment” and a “new chapter” in India-France relations.

“A momentous occasion in Marseille! In this dynamic city, President Emmanuel Macron and I opened the Indian Consulate, ushering in a new era of India-France relations. Our cultural, economic, and interpersonal ties will be strengthened by this consulate, which will act as a crucial link,” PM Modi wrote on X.

Images of the two leaders interacting with the Indian community at the location, which he said was “very enthusiastic” about a new consulate in Marseille, were also posted by PM Modi.

“India and Marseille have a well-established relationship. It served as a crucial base for Indian forces during World War I. Veer Savarkar is very closely associated with this city. Prime Minister Modi congratulated the Indian diaspora and thanked the French government for this unique inauguration.

Since Marseille is situated at the intersection of major shipping lanes and is positioned as the natural entry point to Southern Europe, the opening of the new Consulate General, which PM Modi announced during his 2023 visit to France, is anticipated to improve both people-to-people relations between India and France as well as commercial ties in the South of France.

The inauguration of the first Indian Consulate in continental France, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is evidence of the strengthening connections between France and India.

According to the MEA, “this will give a boost to the people to people relations & the multi-dimensional relationship between the two countries,” after the opening of the new Consulate.

In remembrance of the Indian troops who fought and lost their lives in the World Wars, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron earlier visited the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille.

With 1,487 Commonwealth war graves from World War I, the Mazargues War Cemetery is the second biggest location for the interment of Indian troops in Europe.

aboard a unique display of the two leaders’ close relationship, PM Modi and President Macron took a plane together Tuesday night from Paris to Marseille aboard the French Presidential Aircraft.

“They spoke about important regional and international concerns as well as the whole range of bilateral interactions. After arriving in Marseille, delegation-level discussions ensued. The leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership, which has steadily evolved into a multifaceted relationship over the past 25 years,” read a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

According to the statement, all facets of the strategic alliance between France and India were discussed. The strategic domains of space, civil nuclear energy, and defense were examined by the two leaders.

“They also spoke about how to improve cooperation in the domains of innovation and technology. This area of partnership assumes greater salience in the backdrop of the just-concluded AI Action Summit and the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026. The leaders also called for enhancing trade and investment ties and in this regard welcomed the report of the 14th India- France CEOs Forum,” it added.

A Joint Statement outlining the way forward for India- France ties was also adopted after the talks. As many as 10 outcomes in the areas of technology and Innovation, civil nuclear energy, triangular cooperation, environment, culture and people-to-people relations were finalised.

President Macron hosted a dinner in honour of the Prime Minister in the coastal town of Cassis, near Marseille, on Tuesday while PM Modi invited the French President to visit India soon.