IFCCI Awards Best CSR Projects of Indo-French Companies, Celebrates 10 Years of the CSR Act at its 5th Edition of the CSR Conclave & Awards

Initiated by the CSR Committee of the Chamber which is led by Chairperson - Mr. Anurag Pratap, Chairperson, CSR Leader, Capgemini and Vice Chairperson - Ms. Priyam Dhamankar, Legal and Compliance Director, Servier India, the Conclave showcased CSR projects of top French companies in India and recognized their efforts by presenting awards for the Best CSR Projects with a focus on six important categories of education, environment and sustainability, healthcare, vocational skills and livelihoods and employee engagement. This year, IFCCI received 60 applications and were judged on criteria such as Business-based social purpose, innovative CSR initiatives reinforcing the company's business purpose, Clear theory of change, impact & measurement, Concentrated efforts including employee volunteering.

Ms. Payal S. Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI, said, "The contribution of French companies in CSR & ESG and IFCCI's close association with them for the French Covid Solidarity mission in 2021 encouraged the chamber to focus on collaborative projects. IFCCI launched its CSR Department in August 2023 with an aim to promote responsible & collaborative CSR as a combined showcase of French companies in India. The Department has already started with its first project with Socomec India and 11 other French companies' projects are in the pipeline. With IFCCI's CSR Committee and department, we aim to collectively enable Governments, companies, NGOs, communities, and stakeholders at large who are committed to creating affecting impact via inclusive CSR."

Mr. Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France to India said, "This event is being organised at a special moment when India and France complete 25 years of their strategic partnership. The dynamism of the French companies in India and their CSR activities is the demonstration of the diversity and strength of the partnership between the two countries and CSR is one of the best examples to achieve concrete results towards the benefit of the community and the society."

The event also included a Fireside Conversation and a CXO Panel Discussion on the themes - Celebrating 10 years of the CSR Act and Promoting Innovation & Creating Impact:

Speakers at the Event

• Mr. Meenu Singhal, Managing Director, Socomec India

• Mr. Sudarshan Mogasale, CEO, Dassault Systmes Solutions Lab India

• Mr. Sashidhar Vempala, Chief Sustainability Officer & Head-CSR, Pernod Ricard India and

• Ms. Amisha Shah Dhutia, Head - BNP Paribas Foundation

• Ms. Divya Jain, Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), an initiative by Niti Aayog

Jury members - IFCCI CSR Conclave & Awards 2023

• Mr. Benoit Renard, Vice President, IFCCI, Advisory Committee Member, IFCCI CSR Department & Managing Director, Air Liquide India

• Mr. Shad Joynal Abedin, Political Counsellor, Embassy of France in India

• Ms. Payal S. Kanwar, Director General, IFCCI

• Mr. Anurag Pratap, Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee, Advisory Committee Member, IFCCI CSR Department & CSR Leader, Capgemini

• Ms. Priyam Dhamankar, Vice Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee, Advisory Committee Member, IFCCI CSR Department & Legal & Compliance Director, Servier India

• Ms. Manisha Khosla Sinha, Advisory Committee Member, IFCCI CSR Department & Head of CSR, Brand & Communications, BNP Paribas India

• Ms. Rinika Grover, Head Sustainability and CSR, Apollo Tyres

Event Partners

• Platinum Partners - BNP Paribas Foundation, La Fondation Dassault Systmes India and Pernod Ricard India

• Supporting Partners - Ma Foi Foundation and Optimax Aces

• Annual Patron of IFCCI's CSR Committee - Fuel Group

• NGO Partners - Action Against Hunger, Civilian Welfare Foundation, Ennoble, United Way and Virender Sehwag Foundation

• Media Partners - Asia Briefing, CSR Times and Dainik Jagran

• Gift Partner - Svatanya

About the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI)

Established in 1977, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the most active bilateral chamber in India. The Chamber has six offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune. IFCCI represents a dynamic business platform of over 650 company members and 16 Sector Committees offering an extensive range of business services and giving access to people and information. www.ifcci.org.in.