A Tribute to the founders of the CCIFI

A Tribute to the founders of Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Franco Indienne 

Annual General Assembly on the 16 June 2025 at the French Senate 

Under the Patronage of Senator Olivier Cadic 

& 

H.E. Sanjeev Singla the Ambassador of India to France 🇮🇳🇫🇷

As we gather for the Annual General Assembly we proudly honour the founding spirit and official recognition that define our unique legacy in France’s institutional landscape.

Established in 1983 by Francis Doré a scholar with a passion for India and Kumar Ahluwalia Sunrindar an entrepreneur who launched the first ever Indian tourism agency in Paris, CCIFI was born from a visionary idea: that the relationship between France and India deserved not only to be celebrated — but structured, strengthened, and sustained through an institution dedicated to economic and cultural partnership.

This vision was formally recognized by the French State on 27 July 1987, through a decree issued by the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Privatisation, then under Minister Alain Juppé in the government of President Jacques Chirac known for his passion for asian arts and civilisation. 

The decree granted the association exceptional permission to carry the name “Chambre de commerce et d’industrie franco-indienne”

“L’association économique franco-indienne […] est autorisée, par dérogation à la loi du 12 novembre 1956, à utiliser la dénomination Chambre de commerce et d’industrie franco-indienne.”

— Arrêté du 27 juillet 1987, signé par le directeur de cabinet du Ministre des Finances

🇮🇳🇫🇷This special status made CCIFI one of the very few bilateral chambers in France to receive such formal accreditation — and it continues to set us apart to this day: Independent, non for profit, non Partisan 😇

With the continued support of our advisory board, executive board, members and partners, CCIFI carries forward this legacy — building bridges between France and India.

As we celebrate over four decades of Indo-French partnership, we reaffirm our mission: to serve as a trusted platform where business, diplomacy, and community meet.