Editorial
Newcomers Cocktail
Counterfeit Conference
Lunch with Mr Gouyette
CCI Marseille
Conference on Iraq
Conference Gilles Kepel
Iftar with Mr. De Lajugie
Dinner Cruise
Iftar Dinner
Dubai Rugby 7's
New Members
 

The FBC publication committee is pleased to present its first electronic newsletter: FBC.News.  The publications have been expanded and the electronic newsletter complements the quarterly magazine: FBC.Mag. The electronic newsletter will be sent to all members with an email address on file every last Saturday of the month and will recapture the events of the preceding month.

The aim of this newsletter is to share with you and promote the activities organised by the FBC, thus highlighting the range of events being offered to the French business community.

As you will see, this month’s newsletter recalls events as far back as our New Comer Cocktail in September, as well as the various conferences such as the business opportunities in Iraq, the current political situation of the Middle East and the issue of counterfeit products in the UAE.

We trust that this publication will benefit you, the members, and we look forward to receiving your comments on this issue, which will be invaluable to its future success in distributing information to the French business community of Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
 

Agenda

Last months activities

Cocktail for New Business Comers

This cocktail for New Business Comers in Dubai and Northern Emirates took place in the FBC office on 28th September 2003 and gathered around 100 people giving new comers, who do not know the FBC, the opportunity to meet with the French business community and exchange information pertaining to business activities in the region. In an effort to facilitate “the networking” between business individuals, the FBC has organized “A Monthly Get Together Evening” to be held on the first Tuesday of each month at the cheese and wine bar Vintage (Pyramids).  The evening is a good opportunity for members of the FBC to bring along guests and for new comers to meet existing members.

 >>> Editorial | Newcomers | Counterfeit | Mr. F. Gouyette | CCI Marseille | Iraq | Gilles Kepel >>>

>>> Mr. De Lajugie | Dinner Cruise | Iftar Dinner | Dubai Rugby 7s | New Members >>>

Conference – Counterfeit

Fifty people met at the Fairmont Hotel on 12th October to attend a Conference on Counterfeit which was organised to coincide with the visit of the French Union of Fabricants.  Mr. Marc Antoine Jamet, President of the Union and Mr. Jacques Bessy Director of the Union presented the various activities of the Union since its creation in 1877.  This presentation was followed by the intervention of Mr. Scott Butler Chief Officer at Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAA), who talked about the association’s actions to combat counterfeiting in the region and its programme to effectively enforce the copyright law.  Mr. Faisal Barakat, lawyer at Rouse & Co. also addressed the audience and focussed on the UAE legal system, the IP Laws as well as on the anti counterfeiting actions and enforcement options. The conference was attended by Mr. J. de Lajugie Head of Economic Services for the Middle East, Mr.  Robert Jongeryck, Consul General of France, Mr. O. Moaligou Assistant to Head of Economic Services as well as directors of major French companies.
 

Business Lunch with Mr. Francois Gouyette,

French Ambassador

Mr. François Gouyette, French Ambassador to the UAE addressed the French Business Community during a ‘Back to Business Lunch’ organised at the Novotel Hotel on 13th  October. Over 30 people attended the lunch during which Mr. Gouyette spoke about the situation in the Gulf Region stressing that “as far as the region is concerned, multilateralism will bring us the long term solutions, in Iraq, Middle East and Iran”. Mr. Gouyette stressed out that “violence and terrorism are spiralling in Iraq and that solutions lie in a rapid handover of sovereignty”. Mr. Gouyette said that “we cannot allow the road-map to simply disappear in the present tensions and tragic events of the Middle East and that we must try to get things moving … to the road-map’s proposal for an international conference which would end the ‘preconditions war”.  Mr. Gouyette then went on saying that “France’s objective was not to isolate Iran but rather to maintain the dialogue”. Mr. Gouyette also addressed the attendees on the bilateral trade relationships, pointing out that “the UAE are and have been, for the past 3 years, France’s main commercial partner in the region, ahead of Saudi Arabia. Exports for 2002 reached 2,397 billions Euros, making the UAE France’s 25th world customer. Almost 190 subsidiaries of French firms are operating in the UAE, not only in the oil and gas sectors, but the tendency is also towards activities such as banking, distribution, industry and services. Investors from the UAE have also increased their activities and rank 15th among the countries investing in France”. Mr. Gouyette concluded in saying that “France remains among the main suppliers and partners of the UAE” and added that “he was confident that the French Business community will help maintain the highest expectations for the future of our bilateral exchanges”.

 >>> Editorial | Newcomers | Counterfeit | Mr. F. Gouyette | CCI Marseille | Iraq | Gilles Kepel >>>

>>> Mr. De Lajugie | Dinner Cruise | Iftar Dinner | Dubai Rugby 7s | New Members >>>

CCI Marseille – Visit to the UAE

During a visit to the UAE, the delegation of CCI Marseille led by Mr. Thierry Huck, Director of CCI Marseille Provence Tourism Board met up with the FBC.  During the meeting Mr. Alain Tavé, former President of the FBC presented the roles and functions of the FBC in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The CCI Marseille who is experienced in setting up French Weeks abroad is keen to promote the Marseille Provence region and potentially organise a similar week in the UAE.
 

 >>> Editorial | Newcomers | Counterfeit | Mr. F. Gouyette | CCI Marseille | Iraq | Gilles Kepel >>>

>>> Mr. De Lajugie | Dinner Cruise | Iftar Dinner | Dubai Rugby 7s | New Members >>>

Conference – Business Opportunities and Reconstruction of Iraq

The Conference on Iraq was held at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel on Sunday 19th October and was an opportunity for the FBC guests to welcome Mr. Mouayad Hassan, Chairman of the Iraqi Business Council. Mr. Hassan gave a brief on the formation and the goals of their council and the Iraqi business community in the UAE which is active in supplying goods to Iraq.  He also explained the 54 billion US$ rebuilding programme which is forecast over 2003 to 2005 and the different sectors included in this programme. 

Our second speaker, Andy Critchlow, Gulf correspondent for MEED Magazine, who had just come back from Iraq was able, not only to display photographs of daily life in Iraq, but also to give us an overall first hand view of the situation. “Since the hostilities officially finished in May 2003, reconstruction work has been carried out to restore infrastructure and vital services” commented Andy. “Commercial activity is beginning to pick up following the re-establishment of ministries and government authorities. There is a huge long-term market potential. However, concluded Andy, Iraq remains a semi permissive environment and criminality is widespread.”

Our third speaker was Dr. Adil Sinjakli, Sr. Legal Consultant at Al Tamimi & Company. Dr. Sinjakli pointed out “that Iraq’s prevailing transition period imposes the change of its main laws and practices which have been in place since the Socialist regime was adopted 35 years ago. The reformed Iraqi Laws will be more attractive to Investors & Traders” Dr. Sinjakli added, “However, Iraq is still under occupation and there is no constitution and no elected government yet. Therefore, until the laws are amended or repealed, Iraq’s old laws will be in operation”.
 

 >>> Editorial | Newcomers | Counterfeit | Mr. F. Gouyette | CCI Marseille | Iraq | Gilles Kepel >>>

>>> Mr. De Lajugie | Dinner Cruise | Iftar Dinner | Dubai Rugby 7s | Dubai Rugby 7s | New Members >>>

During a conference held at the Sofitel Hotel on 22nd October, Mr. Gilles Kepel, professor and director of the doctoral programme on the Arab World at “Science Po” addressed the audience on the Current Political Situation in the Middle East. Mr. Kepel who travels extensively to the Middle East for his research was accompanied by Mr. Bernard El Ghoul director of the newly open Centre for Middle Eastern Research based in Abu Dhabi.

Iftar Reception with Mr. J. de Lajugie

Mr. Jaques de Lajugie, Head of Economic Services for the Middle East, was the VIP guest speaker at an Iftar Dinner organised in his honour. Around 50 FBC members and their guests gathered in the gardens of the Oasis Beach Hotel where Mr. de Lajugie, who took his posting in August 2003, delivered a speech on France’s economic situation in the Middle East and more precisely in the UAE.

 

 >>> Editorial | Newcomers | Counterfeit | Mr. F. Gouyette | CCI Marseille | Iraq | Gilles Kepel >>>

>>> Mr. De Lajugie | Dinner Cruise | Iftar Dinner | Dubai Rugby 7s | New Members >>>

Dinner cruise on Al Minsaf

On 3rd November, the FBC members were guests of the Al Minsaf vessel and enjoyed a superb dinner, created by the former chef of the Orient Express, Executive Chef Eric Martinet. Mr. Patrice Douce, General Manager of Bateaux Dubai had invited 114 people to partake in a pre launch product testing evening.  A raffle was held with prizes ranging from a stay and health spa treatment in 5 star hotels to somptuous food hampers (donated by the U.F.E). The money raised was handed out to Mr. Frederic Nielle and Geraldine Gallagher of Médecins sans Frontières. 
 

Iftar Dinner - Saeed and Mohamed Al Naboodah Group of Companies

The Marina Island at the Dubai Creek Golf Club was the perfect setting for the traditional Iftar Dinner hosted by the Saeed and Mohamed Al Naboodah Group of Companies which the FBC was pleased to organise during the holy month of Ramadan. Mr. Sultan Al Naboodah who represented the Group, welcomed the guests and confirmed the organisation of this event for the future. 

Over 140 guests welcomed H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasimi, as VIP guest speaker. H.E. Sheikha Lubna, Chief Executive Officer of Tejari, (www.tejari.com) the Middle East online marketplace, delivered an address on the Internet and how it has contributed to faster communication and transaction.  In line with the subject “The Impact of E-Business in the UAE,” Tejari’s leader discussed the willingness of the regional business community to adopt online trading practices.  As part of her presentation, H.E. Sheikha Al-Qasimi drew on the experience she has gathered during the past three years as the leading executive for the regional online marketplace.

The event, attended by members of the French business community and members of other business councils was an opportunity to reaffirm the links between Saeed and Mohamed Al Naboodah Group of Companies (the Group represents two main French brands: Peugeot and Air France) and the French Business community based in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
 

 >>> Editorial | Newcomers | Counterfeit | Mr. F. Gouyette | CCI Marseille | Iraq | Gilles Kepel >>>

>>> Mr. De Lajugie | Dinner Cruise | Iftar Dinner | Dubai Rugby 7s | New Members >>>

  Calling all members

Dubai Rugby 7’s 2003 : A French Accent More ...