Sibi George

Sibi George is an Indian diplomat, a career member of the Indian Civil Service, who is currently appointed as the Ambassador of India to Kuwait. He previously served as Ambassador of India to Switzerland, the Holy See (Vatican City) as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1993.[1] [2] [3]

Sibi George
Ambassador of India to Kuwait
Assumed office
August 4, 2020
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byK Jeevasagar
Ambassador of India to Switzerland, the Holy See and Liechtenstein
In office
November 2017 – August 2020
Preceded bySmitha Purushotham
Succeeded byMonika Kapil Mohta
Personal details
BornPala, Kerala
NationalityIndian
Spouse(s)Joice Sibi
EducationM.A. (Political Science)
Alma materSt. Thomas College, Palai
OccupationDiplomat
AwardsS.K. Singh Award, 2014

In 2014, the Government of India conferred on him the S.K. Singh Award for Excellence in Indian Foreign Service.[4] This award was conferred upon him during his post as Deputy Chief of Mission to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [5]

India–Kuwait relations

India
Kuwait
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of India, Kuwait City, KuwaitEmbassy of Kuwait, New Delhi, India
Envoy
Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Shri Sibi GeorgeKuwaiti Ambassador to India Fahad Ahmad Al-Awadhi

Early life and education

George was born in Pala, Kerala.[6] He is a gold medallist graduate of St. Thomas College, Palai and has a Master of Arts in Political Science. He also holds a diploma in Arabic from The American University in Cairo.[7]

Career

Joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1993, George began his diplomatic career in Cairo where he served in the Mission as Political Officer. Subsequently he moved to the Indian Embassy in Doha, Qatar where he handled Consular, Community, Information and Media affairs as First Secretary. Later he served as Political Counsellor in Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan and as Political Counsellor and Commercial Counsellor at Indian Embassy in Washington DC. He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Indian Missions in Tehran, Iran and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[8] [9] [10]

At headquarters of Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, he served in East Asia Division and also as coordinator of India–Africa Forum Summit. He later headed Administration, Establishment and Welfare Divisions in the Ministry of External Affairs.[11]

He was accredited as the Ambassador of India to Switzerland, the Holy See (Vatican City) and the Principality of Liechtenstein in November, 2017. During his post, he handled the high profile visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2018, who visited Switzerland to deliver the keynote address at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2018 in Davos and the recent state visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Switzerland.[12][13] The President also attended an Indian Community and Friends of India reception hosted by Sibi George[14]

An expert of Middle East affairs, Sibi George is currently appointed as the Ambassador of Kuwait.

Awards

George was presented the S.K. Singh Award for Excellence in Indian Foreign Service by Former Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari. He was congratulated for his services in aiding the Indian expatriates during the Saudi Arabian Nitaqat scheme, a law aimed at giving preferential employment to locals, and involving a drive to identify illegal migrant workers.[15][16][17] The Indian Embassy negotiated solutions for all the Indians needing help. About 100,000 returned home, while the Embassy and the volunteers worked towards regularising the status of 1.4 million Indians who wanted to stay in Saudi Arabia.[18][19]

Personal life

He is married to artist Joice John Pampoorethu. They have three children.[20]

References
  1. "Sibi George appointed India's next Ambassador to Kuwait". ANI News.
  2. "Indian golfers bid farewell to ambassador". Gulf-Times. July 13, 2020.
  3. "Indian origin scientist awarded". March 28, 2019 – via Business Standard.
  4. "Indian Diplomat in Saudi Arabia Sibi George wins S.K. Singh award". March 6, 2014 – via Business Standard.
  5. News Network, NetIndian. "Sibi George wins S K Singh Award for Excellence in Indian Foreign Service". NetIndian.
  6. "Keralite Sibi George appointed ambassador of India to Switzerland". OnManorama.
  7. "Embassy of India, Berne, Switzerland : Ambassador Profile".
  8. Hareesh, P. C. "Malayali IFS officer Sibi George to be appointed as Indian Ambassador to Kuwait". Mathrubhumi.
  9. "Sibi George appointed Indian envoy to Kuwait".
  10. "H.E. Sibi George will be the India's new Ambassador to Kuwait ???". www.iflkuwait.com.
  11. "Meet the Ambassador of India, H.E. Mr. Sibi George". March 7, 2018.
  12. "Narendra Modi: These are the 3 greatest threats to civilization". World Economic Forum.
  13. "President Kovind in Switzerland on second leg of his 3-Nation visit | DD News". ddnews.gov.in.
  14. "The President of India". presidentofindia.gov.in.
  15. "Indian VP honors envoy for excellence in foreign service". Arab News. March 8, 2014.
  16. Team, BoI. "India's deputy chief of mission in Saudi Arabia Sibi George gets 3rd SK Singh Award".
  17. "Indian Diplomat in Saudi Arabia Sibi George wins S.K. Singh award". November 30, 2013.
  19. "The Nitaqat Program: what employers in Saudi Arabia need to know". Global Workplace Insider. November 11, 2013.
  20. "H.E. Sibi George will be the India's new Ambassador to Kuwait". April 30, 2020.
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