Editorial
Agenda
Committees Update
Employment
Publications
Last Month Activities
Regional Outlook
Annual General Assembly
Sohoor Dinner
Allez France
FBC News
News
FBC Members News

Visit our website >>

Become a member >>

New members >>

Executive Committee >

Dear Members and friends,

Along the past two years, the monthly tricky exercise of writing this editorial came too frequently. This time, however, it comes too soon as it is my last one.
It is time for me to extend many thanks to the Executive Committee and our President Francois Dao, who have been instrumental to our success through the past years.
A special thank you must go to the French Ambassador, Patrice Paoli, his predecessor Francois Gouyette, and Consul General Robert Jongeryck, who have supported us in a very effective way. I would also like to acknowledge the accrued collaboration with the French economic Department, under the guidance and continued support of Jacques de Lajugie, Head of the Economic Services for the Middle East that has enabled both our organisations to optimize their services.
I would also like to give a special thank you to my dedicated team, Marie-Christine Amestoy, Linda Mokadmi, Soizic Hourdin and Sandrine Ransom, who are truly the heart and soul of the FBC.
It has been a privilege serving the FBC as Director and I am sad to leave this position. Sad but confident, as Marie-Christine takes over the job. I wish her much success in this new challenge and I wish her to enjoy it as much as I did.
Finally, a big thank you to you all for your steady support and growing involvement in the French Business Council! All the best for the future.

France Crespin-Van Duinen,Director

Agenda

Monday 14th November		Sponsored information cocktail “ Protection du Conjoint”- JDR Conseils - La protection du conjoint : Assurer la protection du cercle familial en prenant en compte la particularité d’expatrié. More info... Venue: Palm 6, 33rd Floor, the Fairmont Hotel Dubai Timings: 7pm- 8:30pm / Cost : free- sponsored by JDR Conseils Language: French
Monday 21st November		Business Lunch with Dominique Perben, French Minister FOR TRANSPORTATION, CAPITAL WORKS, TOURISM and MARITIME AFFAIRS - The FBC organises a business lunch on the occasion of the visit of Dominique Perben, the French Minister of Transport, to the Dubai Airshow, with the participation of the French VIP officials, French Ambassador Patrice Paoli, French Consul General Robert Jongeryck and the Head of the French Economic services,Jacques De Lajugie. Pre-registration is essential as extra security measures will apply at the hotel. Venue: Al Bustan Rotana Hotel Dubai / Timings: 13pm- 2:30pm Cost : members: AED 140 Non Members: AED180 / Language: French Open to FBC members and friends

Upcoming events dates for your calendar...
Tuesday 6th December	FBC Get together, Novotel Hotel, The Blue Bar from 7pm onwards The November get together was cancelled, due to the Eid holidays and the anniversary of Sheikh Zayed’s death.
Sunday 7th December	>>>>> N e w F o r m u l a !
	Breakfast Seminar: Saudi Arabia for French companies A new set of regulations to boost foreign investment This conference will be the second in a new series of conferences, that the FBC organises to assist its members with their regional development.

Advertising Opportunities
Prepare ahead and enjoy early booking offers.

FBC DIRECTORY 2006

The FBC team is now preparing the FBC Directory 2006, your annual practical and useful business guide.

Here is an added opportunity to promote your company, your products and services through the successful FBC Directory. You can now book your favourite advertising space in the new Directory
Book now

An Ad in the annual FBC Directory reinforces your company’s exposure and highlights your membership to a successful and efficient business network. The FBC Directory is widely distributed in the local business community across all the Emirates, through the regional Chambers of Commerce, the various trade missions, Embassies and Consulates, the other business councils as well as the top companies, with a print run of 1,500+ copies.
It is also available for newcomers who plan to set up a business in the Emirates and would like to initiate business contacts with the FBC members. If you want to be part of a successful communication media, book a company ad now. Booking

FBC MAG - February issue on IT (Ad + FREE EDITORIAL on your company)

If you would like to advertise in the next issue of FBC Mag on IT, please book your space now to avoid any disappointment. You will be given a Free Editorial with your ad.
For further information, please contact Marie-Christine Amestoy at 04 335 2362 or 050 552 5766.

Booking

FBC NEWS (Advertising Banner)

Sold for the Full Year - The exclusive advertising opportunity in FBC News is for FBC members only. Through the ad banner, your company benefits from a double exposure, as FBC News is sent to members and associates, and posted on our website too.

Events Sponsorship

There will be several opportunities in the coming months for your company to fully sponsor or co-sponsor an event (luncheon, evening conference…). Please confirm your interest by e-mail to : mc.amestoy@fbcdubai.com or call 050 552 5766 to receive details of the sponsorship opportunities (first one in September).

>>> REMINDER!! - free press releases in FBC publications >>>
If you would like to promote your products or services, or communicate on any changes/ updates/events within your company, just send an e-mail to mc.amestoy@fbcdubai.com with your write up/press release and a picture/logo. Your article will be included in the next FBC New, and/or the magazine FBC Mag. (subjet to publication’s committee’s approval).

Committees Update

FBC EMPLOYMENT

..........................................................................................................................

This month we are proud to announce that we have just attained our target: nearly 30 French candidates found a position through our Consular Section for Employment over the last seven months in various sectors and activities.
In front of this growing success we constantly look for new job offers. We receive more than 50 CVs each month; so do not hesitate to call on us for your recruitment needs.

This month in our Employment Service: 33 job offers and 66 new applications

Soizic HOURDIN
Consular Section for Employment
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 8.00 AM to 1.00 PM
+971 4 337 2590 - employment@fbcdubai.com

PUBLICATIONS

..........................................................................................................................

Editorial Calendar
No 21- Large Projects
Publishing date: October 2005

No 22-Special IT
Publishing date: 1st quarter 2006
Booking deadline: 31st November 2005

Last month activities

..........

REGIONAL OUTLOOK SEMINAR, opportunities in Qatar for French Companies

This seminar took place on the 16th October. At this occasion we had the pleasure to welcome Mr. Jacques De Lajugie , Chef des services economiques francais pour le Moyen-Orient and Mr. Christian Ponsot, chef de la Mission Economique du Qatar.
Qatar was presented as the most francophile country of the region, although France may not be so well known among the population. The country enjoys great political stability and benefits from a visionary leader, whose close family also holds key positions in the government and actively takes part in the economic and educational development of the country. It is the richest and most solvent country in the region. The country is widely open to foreign investment and is also a big investor in France, i.e the Qatar Islamic Bank is the first investor in France. Read more...

...............................................

FBC ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SOHOOR DINNER

The FBC held their 20th General Assembly at the Conference Centre of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on the 19th October. The achievements of the past year and ambitions for the future were presented to the members by the FBC Executive committee, under the leadership of Francois Dao, FBC President.
H. E. Patrice Paoli, the newly appointed French Ambassador to the UAE presided over the meeting, together with H.E. Robert Jongeryck, Consul General of France, and Jacques de Lajugie, Head of the French Economic Services. After the vote for the new executive committee, the participants were invited to a sohour dinner reception in the ballroom and greeted by H.E Patrice Paoli, who was meeting the Dubai-based French Business community for the first time. The Arabic dinner took place in a very relaxed atmosphere, as the guests unwinded after the General Assembly, and leisurely finished the evening under the stars, at the Sheesha Café especially set up for the occasion, just outside the Conference centre.

More photos...

.......................................................................................

SOHOOR DINNER CONFERENCE

The Saeed and Mohamed Al Naboodah Group generously sponsored the annual Sohoor Dinner for the members and friends of the French Business Council on 26th November to celebrate the Holy month of Ramadan. An audience of 200 guests including French, local and foreignVIP officials had the privilege to listen to a presentation by H.E. Dr Habib Al Mulla, Member of the Federal National Council,Chairman of Dubai Financial Services Authority, who talked about the newly set up and innovative financial free zone, DIFC .
The guests were then invited to a refined sohour dinner reception in the gardens of the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
The French Ambassador to the UAE, H.E Patrice Paoli, H.E Robert Jongeryck, Consul General of France, and Mr Abdullah Mohammed Al Naboodah, Vice President of the Al Naboodah Group, were among the guests. The Arabic-themed dinner took place in a relaxed atmosphere, as the guests enjoyed a networking opportunity under the stars. The high profile event contributed to reinforce the strong French-Emirati ties.
Our sincerest thanks go to our Emirati partner Al Naboodah Companies. (DIFC Presentation available at the FBC office)

.............................................

ALLEZ FRANCE PRESENTATION COCKTAIL, 7th November

The Dubai Desert Froggies and their car –Traders Hotel Dubai

Desert Challenge Classic - The French Business Council supported its Vice President, Axel Berrier and his racing partner Rodolphe Lavoise in their desert challenge, and invited FBC members to discover THE CAR that will drive our 2 desert addicted French Managers across the desert from Abu Dhabi to Dubai during the Desert Challenge Classic from 10th to 14th November 2005. 1900 Km- 400 km of liaison in challenging conditions
60 friends and FBC members came to wish them GOOD LUCK.

FBC News

Election of the new FBC Board
The vote took place and the following FBC Executive Board is now in place for the coming 12 months:

President	François Dao
1st Vice President	Axel Berrier
2nd Vice President	Hussain Al Jaziri
Secretary General	Dominique Fabrer
Treasurer	Didier Hardouin

The other Executive committee members are: Emmanuel Carpentier , Patrice Douce, Christine Fay, Dina Founes , Nicolas Girot , Martin Tricaud, and Henri Zoleyn. We wish them much success in their forthcoming endeavours.

...........................................................................................................................................................

New Member in the FBC Team, Annaick Gueguen-Briand
Further to Marie-Christine’s new assignement, Dominique Fabrer, our recruitment consultant, kindly assisted in the launch of a recruitment procedure and the selection of the candidates, to fullfil the vacant position of events & marketing manager. We are happy to welcome Annaick Gueguen-Briand as our new Events and Marketing Manager and we wish her much success in our team. Annaick will join the FBC at the end of the month. She has been in Dubai for 5 years and has a proven track experience in event management and a valuable knowledge of the local business environment.
All our thanks to Dominique who took the time to select and interview all the candidates.
The team is now ready for the new challenges ahead.

...........................................................................................................................................................

Membership 2005-2006 - Renew your FBC Membership BEFORE 10th December to SECURE YOUR ENTRY in the FBC DIRECTORY 2006.
If you haven’t renewed your FBC membership yet, and would like your company to be featured in the FBC DIRECTORY 2006, please send your renewal form together with your payment before 10th December to secure your entry in the directory. As you are already aware, the FBC directory is a useful business tool which is widely distributed in the local business community and available to newcomers who plan to set up a business in the Emirates and would like to initiate business contacts with the FBC members.
An entry in the FBC directory reinforces your company’s exposure and highlights your membership to a powerful and efficient business network

...........................................................................................................................................................

Carte Privilèges - Still looking for local offer...
FBC members can enjoy special discounts while travelling in France with the Carte Privilege. We are in the process of adding local benefits.

If you think that your company would be interested in offering local special discounts, preferential terms or services to the FBC members, and/or potentially to a network of 25,000 companies who belong to the UCCIFE (Union of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry abroad), please contact Marie-Christine on 04 335 2362.

News

INSEAD Programmes More Info...

Modern Luxury 2005 More Info...
FBC supports MSF calendars More Info...
Swim the Burg More Info...

The Opera More Info...

FBC Members News

This rubric is yours…
If you would like to promote your products or services, or communicate on any changes/ updates/events within your company, just send an e-mail to mc.amestoy@fbcdubai.com with your write up/press release and a picture/logo. Your article will be included in the next FBC News.

...........................................................................

.......................................................................