The Chamber of Commerce Franco-Arab (CCFA) invited the 12 young Saudis, who are from Riyadh and Jeddah, to allow them to explore recent developments and latest technologies.

The members of the Young Entrepreneur Committee, who began their visit on March 28 and returned on April 4, visited the CCFA office and the Public Establishment for the Development of Defense (EPAD) in Paris to enhance their knowledge of French business matters. Nasser Al-Zamil, a business development manager at Zamil Air Conditioning and a member of the Young Entrepreneur Committee in Riyadh, said his main objective was to learn about new ideas and technologies.

“We want to make some acquisitions and buy know-how from Europe. When we bought a factory in Italy, we acquired some knowledge about cooling water systems,” he said.

“I believe these trips are very important to achieve the goals of a company like mine. You need to explore new markets, discover new technologies and then you can expand your vision,” he said.

The delegation also had the opportunity to visit the French Young Entrepreneurs Center (CJD) in Paris where they met Emmanuelle Peres, CJD’s general secretary, and Yves Perrot, CJD’s director.

Abdallah Al-Nowaiser, owner of Abdallah Al-Nowaiser Real Estate Company, has been a member of the Young Entrepreneur Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 2009.

He said he went to Paris to build contacts. “Networking helps improve my business. I also believe it is very important to travel with a group of entrepreneurs from the same country to establish good ties,” he said. The delegation also had the honor to be invited to the French National Assembly for a presentation by the French Institute for Islamic Finance (FIIF). They then visited the House of Chanel for a private visit of Coco Chanel’s workshop and a presentation of her life.

They also made cultural visits. They visited Lyon, which is famous in France for its rich culture and beauty, and Versailles Castle.

Abdulrahman Al-Thanayan, a financial manager at Ibn Khaldun Educational Company, said he went to Paris because French hospitals are known to have high standards. “We are building a new hospital so we are hoping to find an operator and investors,” he said.

He believes the trip has been useful. “We met a lot of people and got contacts. Next week, I will try to find the serious ones and then invite them to Riyadh so they could have a better idea of what we are doing. Afterwards, we will talk strategy and reach an agreement,” he added.