The French government on Wednesday honoured Dr Villoo Morawala Patell, chairperson and managing director of Avesthagen Ltd with the distinction of ‘Officer of the National Order of Merit’.

Bestowed on Dr Patell by the Ambassador of France in India, Mr Jerome Bonnafont, in the name of the Preasident of the French Republic, the award was presented to Dr Patell to recognise his outstanding contribution to the bio-pharmaceutical industry.

Presented in the presence of Mr Alqain Cousin, the French member of parliament and chairman of  ‘UBI-France’, the French agency for international business development, the citation stated that the award acknowledged the contribution of Dr Patell.