Mumbai, July 30: India is set to host the prestigious Women’s Forum Global Meeting for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the growing strategic partnership between India and France. The two-day summit will be held in Mumbai on November 2-3, 2026, bringing together policymakers, business executives, technology leaders, entrepreneurs and global thought leaders to discuss the future of innovation, artificial intelligence and inclusive economic growth.
Organised by the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, a Publicis Groupe initiative, the event is being held in partnership with the Embassy of France in India and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) as part of the 2026 France-India Year of Innovation.
The summit carries special significance as it will be the Women’s Forum’s first-ever Global Meeting outside France since its inception more than two decades ago. The decision to choose India underscores the country’s emergence as a global innovation hub and one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
Focus on AI, Leadership and Future of Work
The 2026 edition will revolve around the theme “The Future of Prosperity: Women, Work and the Forces Reshaping our World.”
Discussions will examine how artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, technological innovation and changing workplace dynamics are reshaping economies worldwide. Delegates will also deliberate on policy frameworks and business strategies needed to ensure that technological advancement creates broader and more inclusive economic opportunities.
The event aims to encourage stronger collaboration between governments, businesses, academia, civil society organisations and technology companies from India, France and several other countries.
India’s Growing Global Role
India’s leadership in digital public infrastructure, startup innovation and technology-driven economic transformation played a key role in bringing the Women’s Forum Global Meeting to Mumbai.
The summit is expected to serve as a platform for sharing successful innovation models, strengthening Indo-French business cooperation and exploring solutions to global challenges including climate resilience, demographic shifts, workforce transformation and women’s economic participation.
Women’s Leadership Drives Economic Growth
Speaking about the summit, Nannette Lafond Dufour, President of the Women’s Forum, said economic growth and technological transformation can realise their full potential only when they create opportunities for everyone.
She noted that since its establishment, the Women’s Forum has consistently promoted gender equality not merely as a social objective but as an important catalyst for innovation, competitiveness and sustainable economic development.
Innovation at the Heart of India-France Partnership
French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou said the France-India Year of Innovation 2026 has positioned innovation as a central pillar of the two countries’ Special Global Strategic Partnership.
He added that long-term prosperity can only be achieved through greater equality between women and men, making the summit’s central theme particularly relevant. According to him, hosting the Women’s Forum’s first Global Meeting outside France in Mumbai reflects the exceptional strength of bilateral ties.
Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration
Hosted in India’s financial capital, the summit is expected to showcase innovative initiatives from across the world while fostering deeper cooperation in emerging technologies, sustainable development and inclusive economic growth.
Business leaders believe the event will further reinforce India’s position as a preferred destination for global innovation partnerships while opening new avenues for collaboration between Indian and French enterprises across sectors.
BusinessFortnight Angle
Unlike a conventional event announcement, this summit represents:
- India’s increasing importance in the global innovation ecosystem.
- Strengthening India-France strategic and business relations.
- Growing focus on AI-led economic transformation.
- Rising recognition of women’s leadership as a driver of business competitiveness.
- Opportunities for startups, technology companies and investors to engage in international collaboration.
