KUWAIT CITY: Ubifrance, the public agency for international promotion of French industry and the French Embassy in Kuwait is organizing the 'French Technology 2007 in Kuwait' from March 18-20 at the Arraya Ballroom at the Courtyard Marriott - three days of exhibition and a program of technical conferences -- in collaboration with the French Business Council, Kuwait and the Franco-Arab Chamber, Paris. Ambassador of France to Kuwait Corinne Breuze told the press the "French Technolgy 2007 in Kuwait, is an exceptional event showcasing the expertise and technical know-how of around 40 French companies, all international leaders in their respective fields of activity.

"The unique combination of exhibition and technical conferences are designed to provide the Kuwaiti government and business visitors with a view of the best French technology and know-how in five sectors of special interest to a fast growing country like Kuwait - energy, infrastructure, environment, health and security." Speaking on the occasion, Jean Luc Waller, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the French Embassy, said "The trade exhibition focuses on the technology areas of special interests for Kuwait, such as oil and gas, power, construction, transport, water, environment, health, security, information technology and banking.

"This reaffirms the priorities outlined during the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to France on Nov 30, 2006," he said. The envoy disclosed the French companies will cover the broad spectrum of know-how, including 13 of the 40 largest groups listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, in addition to engineering consultants and experts in oil industry, emergency power units, energy efficiency, soil sciences, waste treatment, urban development and town planning, industrial risk management, land public transportation, safety wear, advance security systems, etc.

"The purpose of the exhibition," the envoy added, "is to increase the visibility of French technological companies and brands in Kuwait and to bolster French-Kuwaiti partnerships. The business discussions are expected not only to deal with public and private procurement with consultancy expertise and agency agreements but also with potential joint ventures, some of them highly implying on industrial and financial dimensions, he said French groups such as BNP ParibasBNP Paribas and Air Liquide, co-sponsors of the event, have been among the first to take advantage of the recent incentives to attract foreign direct investment in Kuwait promoted by Kuwait's Foreign Investment Bureau, the envoy added.

The French Institute for Petroleum has tied up with the Kuwait Petroleum CorporationKuwait Petroleum Corporation for joint R&D projects, while Total, another sponsor of the event, has been providing technical assistance to the Kuwait Oil CompanyKuwait Oil Company on the long run. Areta T and D who are also sponsors of the event, enjoy remarkable increase of its sales of power transport systems in Kuwait, he said. The French groups, he added, are regularly pre-qualified for large infrastructure projects in Kuwait and cited French civil engineering companies Bouygues credited for building the Bubiyan Bridge, Campenon for building the Ghazally Bridge and Sogea, the Liberation Tower.

The economic dialogue, the envoy said, was revived at the official level between Kuwait and France with the Joint Economic Committee held in Paris in November 2005, followed by a visit of Mrs Lagarde, the French Minister for Foreign Trade to Kuwait in April 2006 with a delegation of 35 business executives. Last September, the official visit to France of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, was marked by ministerial meetings followed by a meeting in October 2006 a meeting of French business delegates with the CEOs of several large private Kuwaiti groups.

The French Business Council -- Kuwait (FBC-K) was initiated by the French business community in Kuwait with the assistance and support of the French Economic and Commercial Mission with three main objectives

* To make the French business presence more visible in Kuwait and to improve the local awareness of French businesses, products and services;

* To strengthen the relationship with the Kuwaiti business community and the Kuwaiti authorities and;

* To contribute to the development of trade and investment between the two countries and to promote in France opportunities offered by the Kuwaiti market and vice-versa.
Speaking on the occasion Philippe Aroyo, country head and General Manager BNP ParibasBNP Paribas said the bank is proud to be the first foreign bank licensed and registered at the Central Bank of Kuwait.

The BNP ParibasBNP Paribas, he said, has two main objectives: to focus on developing relations with the local counterparts with an emphasis on corporate, high network individuals and financial institutions to meet their expectations and contribute to attract major French and international groups to "this expanding and attractive market to help them bring and share their expertise in major developmental places in Kuwait."

Alain Langlois of Total KuwaitTotal Kuwait said this French petroleum group of companies is one of the five largest international oil companies in the world was the first to participate in the early oil development in the Middle East, although its presence in Kuwait is relatively recent. Total, he said, is also very active in the gas production sector, and among other gas activities, it holds interests in six of the most important gas liquefaction plants accounting for more than 40 per cent of the global LNG production capacity.

Sales Director of Areva T&DAreva T&D in Kuwait Walid Lahoud told the press the company has over 100 years of expertise and dedication in bringing power to people worldwide. Other major companies which will exhibit their products and expertise at the event are Legrand, Ciac, Lagar, KIMMCO, Krings International France, Reinforced Earth, Freyssinet, Citroen, Sanafi Aventis, Schneider Electric, Spie, Total, Thales, Manitowoc, Grass valley, Alstom, Aets, Guy Leroy, Antea, Catu, Cegelec, Loire Industries, Thomson, Peugeot, Marais Group, Groupe Egis, Le Floch Depollution and LFB ethical commitment.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the celebration of the French Speaking Communities -- Semaine de la Francophonie -- the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Kuwait with the collaboration of Cinescape is presenting a selection of five recent French films for the young one, subtitled both in English and Arabic. The attendance is by invitation which can be obtained from the Cultural Department of the French Embassy. There will be daily screenings until March 14 at the Laila Gallery Cinema, Salmiya. Cartoons will be shown at 5:00 pm and films at 8:00 pm. For information call Deseez on 2582069 or Madani on 2582065.

By Paul Francis X. Fernandes

© Arab Times 2007

 

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