JEDDAH, 14 July 2005 — Established in 1829, the French Consulate in Jeddah has experienced many transformations: From an independent consulate, it became the Consular Chancellery of the French Embassy after World War II. In 1986, date of the transfer of diplomatic missions to Riyadh, France decided to open a general consulate with full capacity to exercise and to maintain a strong administrative presence in Jeddah, second Saudi town, where a French community of about 1,500 people are residing now. The consular zone of work covers the western regions of Saudi Arabia (from the northern borders with Jordan to the southern borders with Yemen, that is to say the northern borders provinces, Qurayyat, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Madinah, Makkah, Asir, Jizan and Najran).

Maintaining the consular presence is intended to accompany the development of the Saudi-French cooperation in the region. This cooperation is now marked with a very great vitality. The trade relationship covers many areas, including those that need the most modern technologies. Most of the Saudi sponsors who are involved in bilateral trade are in Jeddah. With about 20,000 visas per year, that is to say more than all the Schengen partners together, France represents the favorite destination according to the quality of its services and its infrastructures. The pilgrims who came from France to perform Haj this year were more than 23,000 people and those who perform Umrah are more than 6,000.

However, many things remain to be done, particularly in the sectors where the French industrial and educational excellence is recognized (sale of aircraft, construction of airports, railways, water and desalination, telecommunications). It is a matter of an important mission for the different Departments of the General French Consulate in the interest of the two countries.

Economic Department

Related to the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Riyadh, the Jeddah Economic Department is more particularly in charge of the economic and trade relations with the business community of Jeddah and the western region of the Kingdom.

Which means that its major activity is more oriented to the main sectors of the French presence in Jeddah: Transport (Air France), banks (BSF), perfumery and luxury articles, automobiles (Peugeot, Renault, Citroën), foodstuff (apples, chicken, mineral water and drinks such Evian, Volvic, Orangina, Perrier...), pharmaceuticals (Sanofi, Servier, Mérieux...), electrical equipment (Alstom, which is working on the extension of Shuaiba power plant, Schneider, Legrand...), distribution (Le Printemps), furniture (Ligne Roset, Roche & Bobois...), services (Hotel industry with Accor, Equestrian Club with Bouygues in BOT...)

Moreover, the Economic Department has developed the sector of franchising with encouraging prospects in clothing, services, anchor shops. It’s also worthy to note that the Bakery/pastry “Paul” will open shops in Jeddah under franchising.

Among other missions of the Economic Department, there are the frequent contacts with official bodies such as JCCI, JMB or the Municipality of Jeddah and with international financial institutions such as IDB.

At last, the Economic Department of the Consulate works in close contact with the French Business Group of Jeddah, CAFDA (The Economic & Commercial Counsellor is CAFDA president of honor). They jointly plan and develop actions with our Saudi business partners/members throughout the year, such as diner conferences with the president of JCCI or the mayor of Jeddah who became honorary members of CAFDA, iftars organized during Ramadan, visits to specifics sites, and meetings.

Culture and Cooperation

In the linguistic field, the action of the cultural branch of the French Consulate passes first by the Saudi-French Center, which receives a diverse public desiring to be familiar with French language. On the other hand, an active cooperation is developing with the French section of the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences of King Abdulaziz University. Finally, an effort has been made in the direction of schools teaching French as a foreign language. The system is, of course, completed with the French School, which operates under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Education.

On the scientific plane, the relationship with King Abdulaziz University is intensifying. An active cooperation has been set up between the Faculty of Architecture and the School of Architecture of Marseilles. Links have been established between the Deanship of Distant Learning and the Faculty of Rouen and equally with the Poitiers Centre for Distant Learning.

The faculty of medicine of Jeddah is equally and actively involved in the overall program of sending Saudi students to France. Furthermore, more and more doctors go to France to specialize or to complete their studies. The faculty of Economics and Administration has received many times French professors.

The Cooperation Department promotes the cultural and the scientific relationship with different Saudi Institutions. For example, it helped the Saudi Scientific Club to organize a video-conference with Pasteur Institute: the most brilliant students of medicine in the Kingdom followed, directly from France, a lecture specially intended for them about AIDS, given by Professor Barré-Sinoussi, member of the French team which carried out the co-discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.

Another example is the new Club of Cultural Exchange, which works within the framework of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Jeddah, has received, as a first lecturer Professor Chevalier, professor emeritus of the Sorbonne.

Practical Information

Consular Chancellery – Working hours: from Saturday to Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visa Department – Opening hours for public: from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. from Saturday to Wednesday except for Monday during June, July and August.

Telephone: 668-1550; Fax: 668-2717

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.consulfrance-djeddah.org (useful to obtain application forms for Schengen visas), www.missioneco.org/arabie (Economic Department)