The French Embassy in India recently launched the France Alumni West India network in Mumbai to foster the camaraderie between professionals who have previously studied in France and the global France Alumni community. The launch took place on March 23, 2017 in the presence of Mr. Yves Perrin (Consul General of France in Mumbai) and by Dr. Bertrand de Hartingh (Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs and the Director of the Institut Français in India) at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai.

The event in progress at Royal Opera House (Mumbai)

France Alumni is a multilingual online platform which offers professionals who have studied in France the ability to connect with each other. The Mumbai event marked the third edition of the launch of the France Alumni network in India. The overall Indian chapter – France Alumni India – had previously been launched in September 2016 by French Ambassador H.E. Alexandre Ziegler in Delhi. Mr. Jean-Marc Ayrault (Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development) had launched the South India section in Bengaluru in January 2017.

Some of the alumni at the event

The Mumbai launch comprised of a panel discussion with three alumni from diverse fields – Manoj Rao (Senior Application Developer, Godrej Innovation and Development Center in Mumbai), Amitabh Tiriar (Managing Director at Roquette India and Head of Manufacturing, IMEA) and Neisha Machado Fernandes (Country Manager, Hermès). The panel members shared their experiences and fondest memories from France along with discussing how French education fostered their career on a global scale.

The panelists along with Mr. Yves Perrin (standing on the right) and Dr. Bertrand de Hartingh

The Paris-based international news network France 24 was the prime sponsor of the event. The French multinational video game conglomerate Ubisoft showcased their interactive video game ‘Just Dance’ during the launch.

Choreographers dancing to the beat of Ubisoft’s game ‘Just Dance’ at the event

Apart from various alumni from France, the attendees also included members from the French Consulate (Mumbai), Directors of Alliances Françaises (West India region), CEOs from French companies operating in India and representatives from French Schools and Indian Universities.

Mr. Yves Perrin along with representatives from the French Consulate, AF Bombay and Campus France (Mumbai) at the event

The world’s fifth-largest economy, France is also the fourth most popular destination for international students. In 2016, France welcomed more than 4,200 Indian students in French institutions and awarded 370 scholarships based on academic excellence. This year, the French Embassy in India will grant over 500 scholarships to Indian students. The increase in the number of scholarships is a part of the ambitious program that the French Embassy in India has developed to welcome 10,000 Indian students in France by 2020 through Institut Français (India). France Alumni is an initiative of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development which was first unveiled in Paris in November 2014 by Campus France (a governmental agency promoting French higher education). Campus France in India works under the aegis of the Embassy of France in India and Institut Français (India).

Siddharth Bhatt

Rédaction, AF Magazine Inde-Népal