NEW DELHI (Feb 19, 2026) — In a landmark address at the India AI Impact Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed India's unique ability to build digital infrastructure at an unparalleled scale, asserting that the nation has "built what no other country can."

Key Highlights from Macron's Address

• From Poverty to Payments: Macron opened with a "namaste" and shared the story of a Mumbai street vendor. He noted that while the vendor lacked a bank account a decade ago, he now accepts digital payments—a transformation Macron described as a "civilizational story" rather than just a technical one.
• The India Stack: He lauded the "India Stack" for its open and sovereign nature, highlighting three massive achievements:

• 1.4 Billion people with a digital identity.
• 20 Billion monthly UPI transactions.
• 500 Million digital health IDs issued.

• Democratizing AI: Macron praised India for proving skeptics wrong by bringing its entire population into the digital economy and argued that India and France are now leading a "human-centric" approach to AI.

A Strategic Partnership

Macron emphasized that the future of AI belongs to those who combine innovation with responsibility. He positioned the India-France partnership as a democratic alternative to the tech monopolies, ensuring that AI development remains grounded in humanity.