The Ambassador of France in India Thierry Mathou, who will reach Puducherry on November 11, is scheduled to engage across fields of circular economy, mobility, energy, education, and culture, underscoring the vitality of the Indo-French cooperation in southern India.
A press note from the Consulate said the events during the four-day visit to the south, which also includes various engagements in Chennai, will mark a reaffirmation of the deep-rooted partnership and shared values between France and India.
The Ambassador will lay a wreath at the War Memorial in Puducherry during the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice in 1918 that sealed the end of World War I, as a symbolic tribute to the courage and sacrifice of soldiers and civilians. The following day, he will join a remembrance ceremony at Karaikal.
The Ambassador will be accompanied by Sophie Briante Guillemont, French Senator for French citizens living abroad, Etienne Rolland-Piegue, the Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai, and representatives of the French community.
Later, Mr. Mathou will also raise a toast in the memory of those who fought for France and to the enduring Indo-French friendship at the Foyer du Soldat (legion hall for retired soldiers who fought for France).
His official engagements include meetings with Lieutenant-Governor K. Kailashnathan, and the Minister of Tourism K. Lakshminarayanan. The discussions will focus on shared priorities in education, heritage preservation, urban development, and sustainable tourism. These exchanges aim to deepen cooperation in promoting Puducherry’s unique cultural and architectural legacy while advancing eco-friendly tourism models, the press note said.
The Ambassador will visit the Lycée Français International de Pondichéry (LFIP) with Senator Sophie Briante Guillemont, where he will meet the Principal, Brahim Oualli and team, the Alliance Française de Pondichéry Director Laurent Jalicous and others, and the French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP), where Director Renaud Colson will showcase the Institute’s research and archival collections.
On November 14, Mr. Mathou will be in Yanam to meet the Regional Administrator, visit the historic cemetery and church, and interact with the French community. Also on schedule are interactions with the students at Mahatma Gandhi High School, Rajiv Gandhi School, and The Regency High School, to encourage them to learn French as a language of opportunity and culture. The Ambassador will also participate in the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Alliance Française de Pondichéry and the three schools in Yanam to strengthen French language education, and launch a French Film Festival at Yanam, the Consulate said.
Published – November 09, 2025 11:44 pm IST
