PSK

Payal S. Kanwar

Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI France-Inde)

Director General

Biography

Payal S. Kanwar Director General, Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) Recipient of the Knight of the National Order of Merit, Government of France (2022) Payal S. Kanwar took the position of the Director General of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2016 after successfully completing 5 years at the chamber as the Regional Director from 2011-2015. With close to 20 years of experience in the field of international business relations, public communication and advocacy, Ms. Kanwar plays a key role in the Indo-French business relations and was awarded the Knight of the National Order of Merit (Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite) by the President of France in 2022. Previously, she held senior positions at the Embassy of France in India and BNP Paribas from 2006 to 2011. A gold-medalist and topper in French Honors from the Punjab University, she also has a Masters in Corporate Communications from NEOMA Business School in France. She completed an Executive Course in Strategy and Management in HEC Paris in 2025. Ms. Kanwar has played a pivotal role in the development of the Chamber with the Chamber winning six international awards from 2018 to 2025 by the CCI France International. She has facilitated a number of interactions between French companies and the Central & State Ministries in India. Her work with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India has largely benefitted French SMEs and large business groups. Under her leadership, IFCCI has grown in stature as a nodal organization for advancing the interests of France and its co-operation with India. Today, IFCCI is ranked 7th out of 125 French chambers worldwide and is one of the most active bilateral chambers in India. She lives in New Delhi and speaks fluent English, French, Hindi and Punjabi. She is a mother of two children.