"La France Expose au Qatar" set to promote French products
DOHA: "La France Expose au Qatar" was officially launched by Mr. Alain Azouaou, the French Ambassador to Qatar, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), Mr. Mustapha Assad, CEO of the communications agency Publicis.Graphics (an affiliate of Publicis Worldwide) and Philip Maquin, General Manager of Spirit Communication, at a press conference on Sunday October 10 at the Ambassador's residence.
This unique trade fair will unfold on Doha Corniche from December 5 to 10, 2004. "La France Expose au Qatar" is an opportunity for Qatari and French economic agents to promote the quality, precision and "savoir faire" of French-made products for the Arab public, in general, and for Qatari one, in particular.
An area of over 1000 square meters on the Doha Corniche will be transformed into a Parisian square, with exhibition stands displaying typical French flair for life and "savoir faire". Visitors can also enjoy the many street performers that will be out and about, all the while discovering French products in an atmosphere of cultural encounter.
Three nights of spectacular entertainment are also planned: a haute-couture fashion show especially flown in from France for the occasion, a retrospective of a century of French culture set to music and, the "piece de resistance", a technological extravaganza of a closing ceremony, a festival of light and sound promising to illuminate the Doha Bay as you've never seen it before.
The event also presents an important opportunity for French businesses to establish new associations with their Qatari partners and to strengthen existing economic relations between the two countries. The trade fair will also host exceptional nights of entertainment, including a French fashion show and a retrospective extravaganza of French culture set to music.
The French ambassador stressed the fact that he "hoped that this event could be a joint Franco-Qatari initiative, a venture of friendship between France and Qatar, unfolding like a dialogue between two cultures". He thanked the Qatari authorities for their unequivocal support, especially Akbar Al Baker, who is "a great friend of France".
For his part, Akbar Al Baker stressed the fact that "it was imperative that the QTA participate actively and fully in the organization of "La France Expose au Qatar", both to promote Franco-Qatari relations as well as to reinforce those economic, political and cultural ties existent between our country and the French Republic".
Mr. Mustapha Assad spoke more extensively about the scope of the event, organized by Publicis.Graphics: "'La France Expose au Qatar' will actually unfold on two levels - on the one hand, an exhibition of French products and brands and on the other, three exceptional nights of entertainment that will make December a month to remember in Qatar."
Philippe Maquin, General Manager of Spirit Communication then spoke a little more about the haute-couture fashion show. Over forty models from the world's biggest agencies will be parading the creations of a dozen of France's great couturiers, as well as several selected traditional Qatari outfits to provide a dazzling blend of fashion influence.
Other Qatari personalities were also present at the launch, including the Vice President of the Qatar Foundation, Dr. Seif El Hajari and the president of the Qatari Businessmen's Association, Mr. Issa Abou Issa, as well as the economic and cultural Advisor to the French Embassy Mr. Christian Ponsot and Mr. Fadi Chalhoub, Manager of Publicis.Graphics Doha.
-Ends-
For more information, please contact:
Publicis.Graphics
Rania Halawi
Tel: + 961 1 354111
Fax: + 961 1 340921
© Press Release 2004
