Key Indo-French business news - February 2026

Tuesday Mar 3, 2026

We are happy to introduce our monthly “Key Indo-French business news” – your quick roundup of the key developments shaping the Indo-French business ecosystem. From strategic partnerships to high-level visits, we bring you the essential news you shouldn’t have missed this February, which features a particularly high number of announcements, notably with the 3-day visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India.

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Key Indo-French News – February 2026

On February 4th, Airbus inaugurated a Centre of Excellence at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in Vadodara, focused on sustainable aerospace R&D, including research on converting municipal solid waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).(Source)
On February 9th, Thales announced plans to recruit 450 specialised professionals in India as part of its broader 2026 global hiring strategy. (Source)
TotalEnergies sold a 1.7% stake in Adani Green Energy via block deals for ₹2,778cr in Q4 CY25, cutting its holding to 17.25% as part of broader divestments by the French energy major. (Source)
On February 10th, French pharmaceutical group Servier announced plans to strengthen India’s role as a key export and manufacturing hub, with further investments planned in 2026. (Source)
On February 12th, India’s Defence Acquisition Council reportedly cleared a major procurement programme for 114 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation, valued at approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore. (Source)
On February 14th, Safran announced plans to establish a Rafale M88 engine assembly line in India, aligning with potential follow-on aircraft orders and reinforcing local aerospace manufacturing capabilities. (Source)
On February 14th, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence announced plans to form a 50:50 joint venture to manufacture and maintain HAMMER precision-guided weapon systems in India. (Source)
On February 16th, Sanofi announced the expansion of its Global Capability Centre in India, aiming to increase its workforce to over 4,500 employees. (Source)
On February 17th, Tata Advanced Systems inaugurated India’s first private-sector helicopter final assembly line for the Airbus H125 in Karnataka. (Source)
On February 17th, Tamil Nadu signed a strategic partnership with French company Flying Whales aimed at establishing airship manufacturing and industrial operations in the state. (Source)
On February 18th, Adani Ports & SEZ and the Port of Marseille Fos signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) framework. (Source)
On February 18th, French automotive supplier Valeo announced plans to increase its sales in India and expand local investments to strengthen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets. (Source)
On February 18th, media reports indicated that Pernod Ricard is considering a potential listing of its India business, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the Indian market. (Source)
On February 19th, Soufflet Malt announced a €100 million investment to build a new AI-driven malthouse in India to expand production capacity and serve growing regional demand. (Source)
On February 19th, Aldoria and AXISCADES announced cooperation to deploy an optical space surveillance station in India, reinforcing collaboration in space situational awareness technologies. (Source)
On February 20th, Dhruva Space signed a propulsion agreement with French space company Exotrail to support upcoming satellite missions and enhance electric propulsion capabilities. (Source)
On February 20th, St John’s Research Institute in Bengaluru announced a partnership with French AI company ‘H’ to develop agentic AI applications in healthcare administration and research. (Source)
On February 20th, Telangana’s T-Hub and the French Hauts-de-France region entered into a partnership to develop an Indo-French startup corridor supporting cross-border innovation and market access. (Source)
As part of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, Thales confirmed that India is now part of its five global corporate research centres, strengthening advanced research collaboration across strategic technologies. (Source)