King Charles on Honorary Knighthood
The first Indian citizen to be granted the honor of Honorary Knighthood is Sunil Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises. For his services to the development of India-UK economic relations, Mittal was awarded the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by King Charles III.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was awarded an honorary knighthood by British King Charles III on Wednesday, marking the first time an Indian citizen has received such a distinction for services to economic ties between the UK and India.
Mittal on the Honor
Mittal receives a KBE under the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, one of the highest honors bestowed by a British monarch, according to a list of honorary British awards released by the UK Cabinet Office.
The 66-year-old businessman expressed in a statement how sincerely humbled he was by King Charles’ kind acknowledgment.
India and the UK have long-standing relations that are about to enter a new phase of greater cooperation and coordination. I’m still determined to do my part to improve bilateral trade and economic ties between our two magnificent nations, Mittal said.
Among the greatest honors bestowed to people by the British queen is the Knighthood (KBE).
It is frequently listed on the Diplomatic Service and Overseas list, but it can also be awarded to British nationals serving overseas or to foreign nationals in an honorary capacity.
About Mittal
As a participant in the India-UK CEO Forum and a past recipient of an honorary doctorate in laws from the University of Leeds and Newcastle Universities, Mittal maintains close ties to the United Kingdom.
He is also a part of the University of Cambridge’s Vice Chancellor’s Circle of Advisors. Furthermore, Sunil Bharti Mittal has held positions as a member of the India Advisory Group at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and on the Governing Body of the London Business School (LBS).
2019 saw the London Stock Exchange list Bharti’s Airtel Africa, which is a component of the FTSE100 Index.
