CATHERINE ODEN CONFERRED L’ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LÉGION D’HONNEUR
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France's highest distinction - Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour) was conferred by François Richier, the Ambassador of France on Catherine Oden, Director, Atout France, for her dedication in promoting France as a preferred tourist destination in overseas markets.
Catherine's creative campaigns and marketing strategies perfectly adapted themselves to the cultures and countries under her tutelage. From Britain and France "Shop till You Drop" to "France-Japan So Close" to "France Celebrates India", her signature campaigns always reflected harmonious synergies between her "adopted" country and home country, France.
With her astute foresight and clear vision, she has worked tirelessly to position France as an ideal destination for India since the inception of Atout France the erstwhile Maison de la France in India in 2002. Catherine has tirelessly tried to untangle the visa issues which had been haunting the travel trade in India, and after dodging many pitfalls, her efforts, combined with the strong will of the French Ambassador and of his Consular teams throughout India, have finally borne fruit with the suspension of mandatory biometry in July 2013 and the recent promise by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, of visas being delivered within 48 hours effective January 2015.