New Delhi : The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) recognized exceptional CSR initiatives by French and Indian companies during the 6th edition of the IFCCI CSR Conclave and Awards. Held in the presence of Thierry Mathou, the French Ambassador to India, the event honored impactful projects across seven categories. Prominent guests included Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech, and former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag.

The conclave emphasized the importance of Impact and Measurement in CSR activities by French companies in India. In her keynote speech, Roshni Nadar highlighted the Shiv Nadar Foundation’s VidyaGyan initiative, which provides high-quality education to gifted students from rural, underprivileged backgrounds, aiming to bridge the urban-rural divide and create future leaders.

The event brought together over 120 business leaders, policymakers, and non-profit organizations to exchange best practices and celebrate impactful CSR projects. Thierry Mathou remarked, This event exemplifies the priorities of the Indo-French partnership, fostering collaboration between NGOs and businesses to promote global solidarity as outlined in the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.”

Virender Sehwag, Special Guest, spoke on the transformative power of sports and education, emphasizing the need to support para-athletes and youth empowerment through holistic initiatives.

The theme, “Beyond Metrics: Putting Impact at the Forefront,” highlighted a shift in CSR from output-driven measures to long-term, meaningful change. A CEO panel discussion explored redefining success through social impact, featuring Ashwin Yardi (Capgemini), Raja Sivaji Ghosh (Sonepar India), and Amisha Shah Dhutia (BNP Paribas Foundation).

Payal S. Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI, reflected on the first anniversary of IFCCI’s CSR Department, which supports 35 projects aimed at socio-economic growth. The conclave exemplified collaboration between Indo-French companies in driving sustainable, inclusive development.