Hon Consul General of India To Benin
President Indian Association of Benin
Vice-Chair, ARPPC (African Regional Polio Plus Committee)2006-2007
Chairman, Benin National Polio Plus Committee of Rotary International.

Directeur des Societes

Ashok R Mirchandani was born in Darjeeling on 17.01.1951. After his schooling (ISCE University of Cambridge) and a B.A. (Hons. NBU) at St Joseph’s College, North Point Darjeeling, and subsequent training in New Delhi, he expatriated to Lagos, West Africa in 1974. Soon he shifted base to the neighbouring Francophone country of Benin for his British-Indian origin multinational Group.. Following the withdrawal of this company from French West Africa, he started his own enterprises in 1980 in Cotonou, the economic port capital of Benin, where he has been residing since 1976.

Fluent in many languages and active in social, economic and philanthropic life of Benin, he is the founding President of the multi-dimensional Indian Association of Benin (embracing the 1000 odd Indian residents) since its official registration in 1990. He has been subsequently elected unanimously at every election but has delegated responsibilities to competent office bearers.. In addition to being the President of the Indain Community of 1000+ members, he has been appointed the Honorary Consul by the President of India since 2000.

As the Honorary Consul of India to the country, he has worked hard for improving bi-lateral relations between India and Benin, as well as in promoting Indian products and enterprises in West Africa as an official agent of the Indian partners.

He has been a Past-President of the Rotary Club of Cotonou, and founding president of the Rotary Club of Cotonou-Centre, and as Chairman of the National Polio Plus Commission, he has been active in the Pulse Polio eradication programmes especially as National Chairman for Social Mobilisation for the Polio NID’s since1999. He is also active in various projects embracing the countries of West Africa. He has been appointed Vice- Chairman for the African Regional Polio Plus Committee for 2006-2007 by the President of Rotary International and the President of the Rotary Foundation for the WHO AFRO Regional countries in the African Continent.

Past-President of the Yacht Club of Benin, NGOs and as current board member of different socio-cultural groups and foundations, he has contributed a lot to the community, all the while maintaining his Indian Nationality; and his efforts have been rewarded with various awards and distinctions from varied sectors and states and international organisations.

Happily married to Marie-Claude, with a teenage son, Anand and an adult daughter, Anita, Mr Ashok R Mirchandani lives in Cotonou, Republique du Benin, West Africa.

Address: Villa Nirvana, Lot N° 1430-s VEDOKO-Missogbe, Cotonou, Benin.
Postal Address: 081 BP 7100, AEROPORT de COTONOU. BENIN (via Paris)
Telephones :229 – 21385220, Ph / Fax / Message : 229 - 21380724. Fax 229 21 315484.
Mobiles 229 -90905105, 229-95954091, 229 - 97974502.
E-mails : ashokmir@yahoo.com , ashok@miroche.com , ashokmir51@hotmail.com