Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman recognised for strengthening India-France economic ties and contributions to telecommunications and digital infrastructure
New Delhi : Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been named a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur) by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion of Honour is France’s highest civilian distinction. Mittal has been recognised for his longstanding contribution to strengthening economic relations between India and France, as well as his achievements in telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
French Ambassador Thierry Mathou highlighted Mittal’s more than three-decade association with France, beginning with Airtel in 1992. He also noted Mittal’s current role as Vice-Chairman of Eutelsat and his contribution to advancing cooperation between the two countries in space and digital technology.
Reacting to the honour, Mittal said he was humbled by the recognition and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening economic ties between India and France. He recalled the partnership between Bharti and France’s Compagnie Générale des Eaux to introduce mobile telephony in India in 1992 and highlighted his continuing association with France through Eutelsat.
The insignia will be formally conferred at a ceremony on October 28, 2026, at the Embassy of France in New Delhi. Mittal was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2007. In 2024, he became the first Indian citizen to be honoured as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by King Charles III.