Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal Receives Prestigious KBE Honour For Contributing To Strengthen UK-India Ties

New Delhi: Billionaire businessman Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was conferred the esteemed Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) medal in a ceremony held at the British High Commissioner's residence in New Delhi. Mittal was honoured for his remarkable contributions to strengthening UK-India business relations.

The KBE medal is among the highest honours awarded to foreign nationals by the United Kingdom for preeminent contributions in various fields. Mittal, the telecom industry veteran, was presented with the medal in the presence of his family and friends in the national capital.

After receiving the honour, Sunil Bharti Mittal expressed his gratitude, stating, "It is an honour to have received the KBE from His Majesty, King Charles III. As India and the United Kingdom continue to chart remarkable scale in our bilateral relations, I acknowledge this recognition both as a privilege and a responsibility. I remain committed to working with stakeholders in our nations towards advancing India - UK business relations. On the occasion of this very special milestone, I extend my gratitude to all for their support through this journey." 

He also reiterated his commitment to advancing India-UK business relations, working closely with stakeholders in both nations.

British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron praised Mittal as a great friend of the UK, talking about his big investments in British companies, including BT, Gleneagles, Norlake Hospitality, and OneWeb, marking a remarkable imprint in the UK-India business. Cameron also acknowledged Mittal's leadership, which made a remarkable impact on the UK-India partnership, particularly through his work with the India-UK CEO Forum.

The British High Commissioner to India, said, “I was delighted to present Sunil Bharti Mittal the KBE medal on behalf of His Majesty the King. Mr Mittal is a great friend of the UK with significant investments, including BT, Gleneagles, Norlake Hospitality, and OneWeb. Mr Mittal's leadership has made a lasting impact on the UK-India partnership, including through his work with the India-UK CEO Forum. Most recently, he led a senior Indian business delegation to the UK to meet with Prime Minister Starmer, the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor, and other Cabinet Ministers to identify opportunities for accelerating economic growth across both nations. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mr Mittal and congratulate him once again.”

Notably, Mittal recently led a senior Indian business delegation to the UK, meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor, and other Cabinet Ministers to explore opportunities for accelerating economic growth in both nations.

Sunil Mittal: Visionary Entrepreneur Bridging India-UK Business Relations

One of India’s leading conglomerates, Sunil Bharti Mittal is a name that resonates globally in the telecommunications industry. He has been a driving force behind the growth of India's telecom industry and a crucial player in strengthening business ties between India and the UK. As the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, he is credited with transforming the Indian telecom sector and, in many ways, influencing business dynamics between India and the United Kingdom. His ventures and strategic partnerships have not only shaped the Indian market but have also contributed enormously to the development of India-UK trade relations.

Sunil Mittal, who was born in 1957 in Punjab ’s Ludhiana, came from a business-oriented family. His father, Sat Pal Mittal, who had been a Rajya Sabha MP as well from Ludhiana, was a prominent industrialist. Sunil Bharti Mittal began his journey by manufacturing bicycle parts in the late 1970s before entering the telecom industry in the 1990s.

The year 1995 marked a turning point in his career when he established Bharti Airtel, which rapidly grew into one of the largest telecommunications companies in India and globally. Under his leadership, Bharti Airtel introduced mobile phones to the Indian market, revolutionising the way people communicate.

Apart from the telecom, Mittal has diversified interests in insurance, real estate, agri and food, besides other ventures. He also has joint ventures with several other global leaders including Singtel, SoftBank, AXA, Del Monte amongst others.

In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour.

Padma Bhushan Mittal's Contribution In Strengthening India-UK Business Relations

Billionaire Sunil Mittal's contributions to India-UK business relations have been instrumental in strengthening closer economic ties between the two nations. His strategic partnerships, including a landmark joint venture with Vodafone in 2000, have facilitated the exchange of technological expertise and investment between India and the UK.

Sunil Mittal's Contributions To India-UK Business Relations

• Sunil Bharti Mittal, who ensured the collaboration between Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India, served as a bridge in enhancing economic ties between the UK and India, which further encouraged investments, creating numerous job opportunities in both India and the UK.
• His partnerships with various firms in India and the UK have led to the adoption of new technologies, enhancing the country's global competitiveness.
• He has worked towards improving diplomatic and cultural ties between India and the UK, participating in discussions on economic collaboration and trade policies.
• He always stressed on the importance of corporate social responsibility, undertaking philanthropic activities in healthcare, education, and rural development in both India and the UK.

What Is 'Most Excellent Order of the British Empire'

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a prestigious British order of chivalry that recognizes outstanding contributions to various fields including arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations and public service outside the civil service.

Established on 4 June 1917 by King George V, the order rewards individuals for their exceptional work in the arts and sciences, charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. The order comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, with the most senior two classes conferring knighthood or damehood on the recipient.

The order's purpose is to acknowledge and reward individuals who have rendered important services to the British Empire, with equal recognition given for services rendered in the UK and overseas. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a symbol of excellence and recognition of outstanding achievements, promoting a culture of service and dedication.

Other Renowned Indian Recipients Of The Honour

Besides Sunil Bharti Mittal, Ratan Tata was awarded the medal in 2009, Pandit Ravi Shankar was decorated with the medal in 2001 for his services to music, and Indian industrialist and Tata Steel veteran Jamshed Irani also received the honour in 1997.

5 Indians Honoured With ‘The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Awards (Civil Division)’ For 2024.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Awards (Civil Division) for 2024 has been conferred on 95 remarkable individuals from around the world including five Indians. These awards recognise exceptional contributions in various fields, including business, arts, culture, and public service. These awards serve as a testament to the recipients' dedication and commitment to their respective fields, and their contributions to strengthening ties between the UK and other nations.

Honorary DBE/KBE Recipients

At least seven distinguished personalities have been awarded the Honorary the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) also known as the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for their outstanding achievements for 2024. Of the seven honoraries, two are Indians – Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group and Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Enterprises. Here’s the list of 7 recipients of the DBE/KBE medals:

1. Natarajan Chandrasekaran: Chairman of Tata Group, recognised for his services to UK/India business relations. (India)
2. Dagmar Dolby: Co-founder of the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, honoured for her services to UK higher education and philanthropy.
3. Vladimir Jurowski: Former Principal Conductor and Conductor Emeritus of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, recognized for his services to music and the arts.
4. Wei Shen Lim: Chairman of COVID-19 Immunisation, Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, honoured for his services to the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
5. Sunil Bharti Mittal: Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, recognized for his services to UK/India business relations. (India)
6. Eric Schmidt: Former CEO and Chairman of Google, honoured for his services to philanthropy.
7. Stephen A Schwarzman: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Founder of Blackstone Inc., recognized for his services to philanthropy.

Honorary MBE Recipients

A total of 34 individuals from across the globe have been honoured with the MBE medals for their exceptional contributions and the list consists of the names of two Indians. The two Indian personalities are:

1. Rajindar Dhatt: Founder Member of the Undivided Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Association, recognized for his services to the South Asian community in the UK.
2. Gaurav Kapoor: Head of Investment Capital Team at the British High Commission, New Delhi, honoured for his services to international development in India.

Honorary BEM Recipient

The Honorary BEM has been conferred to a total of 28 people from around the world, including an Indian national. The Indian, who has been awarded the Honorary BEM for his outstanding service:

• Satyasagar Ghale: Honorary Area Welfare Officer, British Gurkha Veterans Community, India, recognized for his services to the British Gurkha Veterans community living in India.