RIYADH, 16 October 2007 — A major exhibition of French products and technology targeting key sectors of the Saudi economy will be held here at the end of next month.
The exhibition — French Technological Days 2007 (JTF in French) — has been described as a landmark event in the expanding bilateral relations between the two countries. It marks a diversification away from its traditional exports, such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and textiles. JTF represents a major French initiative to penetrate new markets that will open up in the wake of the Kingdom’s multibillion dollar economic cities projects scheduled to come up in different provinces.
The exhibition has been organized jointly by the French Economic Mission in Saudi Arabia and UBIFRANCE, the French agency which works with the economic departments of French embassies to promote international business development. Gray Business Communications, one of the region’s leading communications companies, has been appointed organizers and marketing communications consultants for the event.
Spelling out the details of the exhibition, Bertrand de la Forest Divonne, commercial counsellor at the French embassy, told Arab News that the three-day event in Riyadh on Nov. 24-26 will be formatted into six distinct business sectors: energy-environment;transport; infrastructural development; IT, product innovation and services & research — all current and future growth areas.
He said the participating French companies will showcase their latest innovations in IT, which has been given priority in the Kingdom’s educational and economic development programs. The event will be open to invited guests only. The exhibitors will be on hand to open dialogue and discuss business opportunities with potential new Saudi partners.
A round table discussion will be held on the sidelines of the event, which will focus on the technical aspects of IT along with a series of conferences to run in tandem with the show. In this context, Rabih El-Amine, managing director of Riyadh-based GBC KSA, said: “We will be implementing a very tightly targeted campaign focusing on key Saudi-decision makers within the IT sector.”
Several hundred professionals from across the Kingdom are expected to attend along with ministers and other prominent VIPs who have already pledged their support to the event.
Companies that have already signed up for JTF include: Veolia, Air France, Peugeot, Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) and Actaris. From the Saudi side, three major Saudi partners have agreed to come on-board. They are: the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry; the Saudi-French Business Council and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).
The Arabia Department of the Foreign Trade Advisers of France will host four small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs) on its stand.
The French embassy official said: “This a real opportunity which will benefit both the Saudi IT sector and that of France. I sincerely hope that it represents the beginning of an extremely advantageous collaboration between our two countries from which many more events and partnerships will follow.”
Eric Elghozi, deputy general manager, UBIFRANCE added: “Saudi Arabia is a promising market for several reasons. Development of solid partnerships among customers, sales representatives and investors from the biggest multinational groups will prove hugely beneficial for French export businesses.
Currently, 60 French companies are operating in the Kingdom with a workforce of some 22,000 people. According to the French Embassy in Riyadh, the volume of two-way trade reached $7.89 billion last year with Saudi exports accounting for $5.45 billion and French exports $2.25 billion.
Trade with Saudi Arabia represents 20.6 percent of France’s total trade with Middle Eastern countries.
Main French exports include barley, perfumes, poultry meat, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment and clothing items and accessories. French imports consist mainly of crude oil and refined petroleum products, which make up for almost 95 percent of French imports from the Kingdom.
