New Delhi, May 16: Anne Grillo, Director General for Global Affairs and G7/G20 Sous-Sherpa at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, concluded her three-day visit to India on Friday, reinforcing France’s growing collaboration with India across climate action, education, culture, and innovation.
Grillo’s official tour from May 14 to 16 included high-level meetings, multilateral engagements, and cultural exchanges, according to an official press release. Her visit underscored France’s strategic commitment to its Indo-Pacific partnerships and long-standing cooperation with India.
A key highlight of her visit was co-chairing the Governing Council meeting of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) with Dr PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. “If we build ill-adapted infrastructure today, we are putting our future at risk,” said Grillo. “France is proud to have co-chaired the CDRI since 2024 and is continuing its global commitment by hosting the coalition’s international conference on June 6 and 7, alongside the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.”
Established in 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit, the CDRI is headquartered in New Delhi and serves as a multilateral platform to bolster resilience in infrastructure sectors including energy, transport, housing, health, and water. The current co-chairmanship by India and France runs through 2026.
Grillo also co-chaired the Indo-French Steering Committee on the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum project, alongside Secretary of Culture Vivek Aggarwal. The ambitious plan will convert Delhi’s historic North and South Blocks into 155,000 square-metre museum chronicling 5,000 years of Indian history. France is contributing to the project through a feasibility study by France Muséums Développement, drawing from its expertise in projects like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Grand Palais.
In meetings with senior Indian officials including NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery, MEA Secretary Dammu Ravi, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, and Secretary Aggarwal, Grillo discussed ongoing cooperation in global governance, cultural diplomacy, education, climate action, and preparations for the India-France Year of Innovation in 2026.
The agenda also included multilateral priorities, such as the upcoming UN Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, COP30 in Belem, the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, and France’s G7 presidency in 2026.
Grillo’s itinerary included visits to key French cultural and educational institutions in India: the French Institute, the Alliance Française de Delhi, and the Lycée Français International. She also interacted with participants of the “We Are the Ocean” festival, a sustainability initiative co-organised by the French Development Agency and cultural partners.
She concluded her trip by delivering the keynote address at France Alumni Day 2025 in Delhi, an annual gathering of Indian alumni from French academic institutions. This year’s event centered on women’s leadership and employment, offering a platform for sharing strategies and best practices for promoting gender equity in the workforce.
Grillo’s visit, officials noted, reaffirmed the Indo-French partnership as a robust, multidimensional alliance with shared values and converging interests on the global stage.
