Zubin Karkaria, CEO – VFS Global, and CEO – Kuoni Group, was appointed ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite’ (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the President of the French Republic, François Hollande. The award was conferred on Karkaria by Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, on behalf of President Hollande, at a ceremony in Mumbai, on 2nd December.
The award recognises Karkaria’s contributions in developing France as a tourist destination through leisure, travel and the management of visa services across the world. Having pioneered the concept of visa process outsourcing in 2001 with the launch of VFS Global, Karkaria has contributed to the increased inbound tourism into France.
In the UK, VFS Global manages visa processing services for 22 diplomatic missions through 63 application centres in the country. VFS Global serves the Government of France through 52 Visa Application Centres in 19 countries around the globe. The French award was conferred for distinguished services in public, civil, military posts, or a private profession.
Commenting on the recognition, Karkaria said, “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be judged worthy of receiving this recognition from the Honourable President of France. I have always believed in the enormous potential France has as a destination, and over the years, it has been my privilege to work with Atout France, France’s Tourism Development agency, and many other stakeholders from the travel fraternity in promoting and facilitating travel to this beautiful country.”
Karkaria, who has been a part of the travel industry for more than 25 years, established visa processing multinational VFS Global in 2001. In 2015, he became the first Asian to head the Switzerland-headquartered Kuoni Group, VFS Global’s parent company.
