New Delhi : The 3rd HEC India Business Meet

On Wednesday, 8th June 2018: France’s grand Ecole HEC Paris’s India Alumni network organised its 3rd India Business meet along with the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI). The Guest of Honour for the event was H.E. Mr Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India; the event took place at the Embassy of France - Auditorium in New Delhi. 

The event started with an opening address by Ms. Payal S.Kanwar, Secretary General, IFCCI followed by a welcome address by Ms. Harsha Pandey, HEC Alumni & Retd. Major, Indian Army.

Addressing the audience of 100+ HEC Alumnus and Indo-French CXOs, H.E. Mr. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India highlighted in his keynote speech on how France is deeply committed to fostering closer Indo-French ties in higher education and business. A key aspect of a long-lasting relationship between France and India is the youth exchange. It is a clear priority set by President Macron during his State visit to India, last March to substantially increase academic and student exchange programmes in order to reach 10,000 Indian students in France by 2020. France is developing the tools to reach this ambitious target, such as the Franco-Indian Education Trust or the Young Leaders’ programmes. His Excellency invited everyone to contribute in this cause in his concluding remarks.

The key note address was followed by a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Changing Face of the Indian Consumer: How Industries are adapting to it’. The esteemed panel consisted of Mr Jean-Michel Casse, COO, AccorHotels, Mr Bharat Salhotra, VP-Sales and BD, APAC, Alstom Transport, Mr Guillaume Girard-Reydet, Managing Director Pernod Ricard India, Mr Stéphane Michelin, CEO, Sodexo Benefits and Rewards, Mr Samir Cairae, CEO, Vedanta (Metals) & session moderator, Mr Vikas Lakhani, an HEC alumnus and Co-Founder, InstaOffice.

The meet and discussion was followed by networking cocktails supported by Pullman Aerocity, New Delhi and Pernod Ricard India which was attended by approximately 100 plus alumni and CXOs from varied sectors.