Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain’s first visit to Chandigarh
Ambassador Lenain visits Chandigarh to expand cooperation on Smart Cities and heritage protection.
Chandigarh, 18-19 October 2020
H.E. Mr Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, carried out his first visit to Chandigarh on October 18-19, where he was received by the Governor and Administrator H.E. Shri VP Singh Badnore. He also met with the Chief Engineer and the Chief Architect of Chandigarh, and visited the local Alliance française.
Smart Cities cooperation
For several years, France has been helping Chandigarh meet the challenges of the Smart Cities Mission by providing, in particular, technical assistance through the French Development Agency (AFD). The Ambassador’s visit aimed to boost this cooperation even further with a view to helping Chandigarh emerge as a leader in sustainable urban living.
Conservation of Chandigarh’s architectural heritage
France works together with Chandigarh authorities on the preservation of the City Beautiful’s UNESCO-listed architectural heritage. A French expert mission had visited in February, focusing on the restoration of Le Corbusier’s buildings. After his meeting with Governor and Administrator Badnore, Ambassador Lenain announced that a second French expert mission would visit in the coming months to work with Chandigarh authorities on how to better track, protect and restore Le Corbusier and Jeanneret’s furniture pieces, which are just as much a part of Chandigarh’s heritage as its buildings.
Alliance française and higher education cooperation
Ambassador Lenain also visited Chandigarh’s Alliance française, where he met with its President, Manmohan Lal Sarin, and its new Director, Ophelie Belin, and held talks with representatives of Panjab University, IIT Ropar and Indian School of Business on how to strengthen science and research partnerships with French institutions and enhance student mobility. France is keen on welcoming more students from these prestigious institutions, to enrol for programmes taught in French or English.
The Alliance française de Chandigarh receives 2,200 students a year and traditionally offers Chandigarh dwellers a vibrant cultural programme showcasing the mutual interest between our respective cultures and the friendship between France and the City Beautiful.
During his visit to Chandigarh, Ambassador Lenain was accompanied by Mr Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, Counsellor for Education, Science and Culture at the French Embassy and Director of the French Institute in India.
On the occasion of this visit, Ambassador Lenain gave an interview to The Tribune on French cooperation with Chandigarh as well as the wider Indo-French partnership.