New Delhi: The Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Thierry Mathou, conferred the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur (Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour) on Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, at a special ceremony held at the Residence of France on October 28.

France has bestowed its highest civilian honour on Mittal in recognition of his enduring contribution to strengthening India-France economic relations and his pioneering achievements in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and satellite communications.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Thierry Mathou highlighted Mittal’s significant role in deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.

He said, “The conferring of the Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur on Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal recognises his outstanding contribution to promoting India-France economic ties. Through his associations with French multinational insurance group AXA and telecom equipment manufacturer Alcatel-Lucent, Mr Mittal has strengthened business relations with France. His investment in French satellite giant Eutelsat has also supported France’s ambition to achieve strategic independence.”

The Ambassador further noted that the honour reflects France’s appreciation of Mittal’s longstanding commitment to expanding business partnerships, promoting high-level diplomatic engagement and making significant investments in the satellite communications sector.

Accepting the award, Sunil Bharti Mittal said, “I am moved and humbled by this gracious award from the President of the French Republic. My association with France began with Airtel’s inception in 1992, when Compagnie Générale des Eaux joined hands with Bharti to introduce mobile telephony in India. This association continues today through my role as Vice-Chairman of Eutelsat, the European satellite champion. I accept this honour with gratitude to President Emmanuel Macron and with a renewed commitment to further deepening economic ties between India and France.”

As India and France continue to expand cooperation in space and digital technologies under the framework of their Special Global Strategic Partnership, Mittal, in his capacity as Vice-Chairman of Eutelsat, remains an important contributor to strengthening bilateral economic and strategic engagement between the two countries.