JEDDAH, 5 December 2004 — France is mounting an investment drive, with the visit of Clara Gaymard, president of Invest in France Agency (IFA) and ambassador for international investment.
She will be heading a delegation on Dec. 14 for a 24-hour visit to the city where she will meet local investors and businessmen and hold talks with high-ranking officials, investors and decision-makers from different business circles of the Kingdom.
“The visit of Clara and the accompanying delegation basically aims to promote various services offered by IFA and other concerned French agencies to foreign investors,” a spokesman for the French Economic Department said yesterday.
IFA’s services take into account the expectations and needs of investors related to their legal, tax, social and administrative procedures, mobilizing the public aids, following-up the investment projects and simplifying the administrative procedure, thereby encouraging Saudi businessmen to settle and develop their activities in France and boost bilateral trade relations in different sectors of the economy.
“In the framework of the good relations prevailing between France and the Kingdom, the talks will also deal with the role France can play in helping and assisting Saudi investors and businessmen eager to expand their projects and activities across the European markets,” he said, adding that Clara’s itinerary includes a meeting with Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Dec. 15.
Clara is in her present position since February 2003. Based at the Paris headquarters, she oversees the organization’s international direct inward investment activity.
On the eve of her visit to the Kingdom, Clara said in a message that she warmly welcomed foreign investors. “Our aim is to convince you that our country is a land of prosperity at the heart of Europe, the leading world market.”
IFA is the national body responsible for promoting, prospecting and facilitating international investments in France. It also coordinates initiatives promoting the appeal and image of France.
The IFA network operates worldwide, with offices in France at both national and local levels.
It draws on the expertise of specialists in a range of disciplines based at its head office in Paris as well as in offices in North America, Europe and Asia.
In France, IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors outstanding business opportunities and customized services.
“Our value-added feature is the way we manage to optimize the conditions for your project’s success, inform you on the legal frame and various public incentives, advise you on your choice concerning the area to settle in, and finally help you ease your administrative, legal, tax and labor procedures.”