Ambassador Jawed Ashraf receives France’s highest civilian award for strengthening India-France relations. Ceremony highlights key achievements during his tenure in Paris and Monaco…reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Ambassador of France to India, HE Thierry Mathou, conferred the prestigious insignia of Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur (Commander of the Legion of Honour) on Jawed Ashraf during a special ceremony at the Embassy of France in New Delhi.
The award, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the French Republic, recognises Ambassador Ashraf’s significant contributions to strengthening the strategic partnership between France and India during his tenure as India’s Ambassador to France and Monaco from July 2020 to December 2024.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Mathou highlighted the impact of Ashraf’s work, saying, “Ambassador Ashraf’s remarkable career and personal dedication have been pivotal in accelerating and deepening the bilateral relations between our two nations. His tenure as India’s Ambassador to France and Monaco saw landmark achievements, including the advancement of defence cooperation and the celebration of the 25th anniversary of our Strategic Partnership in 2023.”
He recalled the historic event when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited as the guest of honour at the French National Day celebrations on July 14, 2023, which also marked the launch of the Horizon 2047 Roadmap — a blueprint guiding the India-France partnership for the next two decades.
Accepting the honour, Ambassador Ashraf expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am honoured to be conferred the Insignia of the Commander of the Legion of Honour by the French Republic. This is a reflection of the high importance and priority that France attaches to its relations with India and a testimony to the extraordinary progress in the India-France strategic partnership — strong, consistent and trusted — under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and HE President Emmanuel Macron.”
The investiture ceremony also highlighted the recent elevation of France-India ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership during President Emmanuel Macron’s successful visit to India in February. The visit institutionalised annual consultations between the foreign ministers of both countries, produced over 20 key deliverables, and launched the India-France Year of Innovation.
Instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion d’Honneur is France’s highest civilian award, recognising outstanding service to the nation, irrespective of the recipient’s nationality. The President of France serves as the Grand Master of the order.
Ambassador Ashraf’s distinguished diplomatic career spans over three decades, with postings in Frankfurt, Berlin, Kathmandu, Washington DC, and Singapore, along with senior roles in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of External Affairs. He currently serves as the Chairman of the India Trade Promotion Organisation.
