Visit to Chennai, Pondicherry and Karaikal, 6-11 May 2013 [fr]

Bestowal of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Dr Balasubramanian

Bestowal of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Dr Balasubramanian

Ambassador Richier laying a wreath at the War Memorial

Ambassador Richier laying a wreath at the War Memorial

Children’s presentation at the War Memorial

Children’s presentation at the War Memorial

Ambassador Richier and Consul General Fournier visit the Institut Français collection

Ambassador Richier and Consul General Fournier visit the Institut Français collection

Ambassador Richier at the Foyer du Soldat

Ambassador Richier at the Foyer du Soldat

French Ambassador paid a courtesy call on H.E. the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry

French Ambassador paid a courtesy call on H.E. the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Pondicherry presents a memento to French Ambassador

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Pondicherry presents a memento to French Ambassador

French Ambassador during press interaction

French Ambassador during press interaction

INTACH presentation on Heritage conservation in Pondicherry

INTACH presentation on Heritage conservation in Pondicherry

Prize distribution ceremony at Lycée Français

Prize distribution ceremony at Lycée Français

Lycée Français principal, Eric Compan, being honoured with Officier des palmes académiques

Lycée Français principal, Eric Compan, being honoured with Officier des palmes académiques

Ambassador at the Consulate General of Pondicherry

Ambassador at the Consulate General of Pondicherry

Arrival of the French Ambassador in Karaikal

Arrival of the French Ambassador in Karaikal

French Ambassador interacting with the students of Karaikal school

French Ambassador interacting with the students of Karaikal school

Mr François Richier, Ambassador of France to India conferred Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Ms. Madeleine de Blic, founder of Volontariat

Mr François Richier, Ambassador of France to India conferred Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Ms. Madeleine de Blic, founder of Volontariat

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H.E. Mr François Richier, Ambassador of France to India, was on a visit to Chennai, Pondicherry and Karaikal, where he participated in various events and met high-level dignitaries.

His visit had a strong economic focus. In Chennai, he met the representatives of Renault, a company that has been heavily investing in Tamil Nadu with very successful activities. On the occasion of a previous trip (26 February), H.E. François Richier also visited the production facility set up by Michelin near Chennai, another example of the intense economic presence of France in Tamil Nadu. All the French Consuls General in India were present in Pondicherry with Ambassador Richier to discuss investments made by French companies in India, as well as Indian investments in France, with a view to further emphasizing the considerable level already reached (17 billion USD of French investments throughout India) and further developing the strong economic partnership between India and France.

The other focus of his visit was higher education, as the number of Indian students in France has increased rapidly over the last years (2,600 Indian students in 2012). H.E. François Richier paid a call on the Director of IIT Madras and interacted with the students there (6 May). IIT Madras has developed partnerships with some of the most prestigious French institutes, such as Ecole Polytechnique, HEC business school, Sciences Po Paris and the Ecole Centrale (Nantes). He also visited the University of Pondicherry (10 May), interacted with the students and met Prof. Chandra Krishnamurty, Vice-Chancellor. They oversaw the coming partnership with University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne for a dual bachelor degree in management.

Ambassador Richier also celebrated the deep historical and cultural links that unite France and Pondicherry. After having met Hon’ble Minister of State Mr. Narayanasamy in Delhi recently, he met His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry and the Honourable Chief Minister on the 8th May.

On the same day, he participated in celebrations marking the end of World War II, which included wreath laying at the War Memorial. A graduation ceremony took place at the Lycée français, followed by the bestowal of the award Officier des palmes académiques upon the Principal, Mr Eric Compan, granted by the President of the French Republic for exemplary service to national education.

H.E. François Richier attended a presentation by the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH) on heritage-conservation projects in Pondicherry and cooperation with France (8 May). On the 9th, he visited Karaikal and hosted a reception for the resident French citizens.

During this visit, on behalf of the President of France, he conferred the highest civilian award Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Dr Balasubramanian, Director CERTH India hospital at 7p.m at the Hotel Ananda Inn on the 6th of May. On the 10th he conferred Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Mme Madeleine de Blic, founder of Volontariat in the office of Volontariat at 6p.m on behalf of the President of France.

He left Pondicherry early Saturday afternoon.