Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman is recognised by President Emmanuel Macron for decades of work strengthening India-France economic ties and for his achievements in telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been named a Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour) by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d’Honneur is the highest civilian award bestowed by the French Republic. Mittal has been given the distinction in recognition of his long-standing commitment to deepening economic ties between India and France, as well as his achievements in telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
French envoy hails a “friend of France”
Announcing the honour, French Ambassador Thierry Mathou praised Mittal’s three-decade association with the country.
“Sunil Bharti Mittal has been a friend of France for more than thirty years, since the early days of Airtel in 1992. He has unflaggingly nurtured these ties over the decades, and shown what French and Indian business endeavours can achieve together. Today he advances these relations as Vice-Chairman of Eutelsat, at a time when our two countries are moving forward jointly in space and digital technology. In awarding him the Légion d’honneur, the President of the Republic recognises an outstanding business leader who has contributed to making France a lasting partner in India,” Mathou said.
Mittal expresses gratitude
Reacting to the recognition, Mittal said he was moved by the gesture and traced his links with France to the launch of Airtel.
“I am moved and humbled by this gracious award from the Republic of France. My association with France began at Airtel’s inception in 1992, when Compagnie Générale des Eaux joined hands with Bharti to introduce mobile telephony in India. It continues today through my role as Co-Chairman of Eutelsat, the European satellite champion. I accept this honour with gratitude to the President of the French Republic, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron and with a renewed commitment to further deepen the economic ties between India and France,” he said.
Ceremony and earlier honours
The insignia will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at the Embassy of France in New Delhi.
The award adds to a list of international and domestic recognitions for the industrialist. In 2007, Mittal received the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours. In 2024, he became the first Indian citizen to be named a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by King Charles III.
