President and CEO of Schneider Electric to Participate in Panel Discussion on 'The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur'

Riyadh-Saudi Arabia: 18 January, 2012- Jean-Pascal Tricoire, President and CEO of Schneider Electric, will attend the Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) and participate in a panel discussion on 'The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur' as part of his current Middle East tour.

Tricoire's participation follows Schneider Electric's successful involvement in the event last year. It also comes on the back of his presence at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi that was held from 16-19 January in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

GCF is hosted by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. Running from 21-24 January at the Kingdom Centre, Four Seasons Hotel, the sixth edition of the forum will host over 100 speakers including global business and political leaders as well as selected intellectuals and journalists.

Over the years, GCF has successfully highlighted the importance of a competitive and innovative marketplace. This year's event will reiterate the benefits of entrepreneurship and tap into young, entrepreneurial minds to effect change.

Christophe Campagne, Schneider Electric Country President in Saudi Arabia said: "The subject of entrepreneurship is highly topical in the region. Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in general have a wealth of human resources. This massive pool of young, intelligent, motivated and creative individuals is the future of the region, which makes the forum an ideal platform for them to listen and be heard." 

The forum will analyse the aspects of social, government and corporate entrepreneurship. Key areas of discussion will include the importance of failure, value of risk, and the anatomy of an entrepreneur. This year will also see the inclusion of breakaway workshops that will expand on some of the topics discussed onstage in a smaller and more personalised setting.

As head of a global leader in energy management, Jean-Pascal Tricoire's comments will be followed with particular interest as Schneider Electric continues to formulate innovative yet practical solutions for the challenges that confront the energy sector.

Campagne added: "At Schneider Electric, we nurture innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the organization. The globally recognized BipBop program that stands for 'Business, Innovation and People at the Base of the Pyramid' is an excellent example of our CSR program to encourage and support some of the least privileged communities. Through our success with BipBop and other initiatives, we remain committed to supporting the evolution of the next generation of entrepreneurs and dreamers."

Schneider Electric's BipBop programme is a sustainable initiative that aims to bring safe and clean electricity to the people who need it most worldwide. With the strong willingness to involve local communities and local stakeholders in each country, the BipBop concept addresses three key issues to provide sustainable access to electricity:

  • Lack of appropriate equipment through the development of an adequate offer;

  • Lack of financial resources available for innovative energy entrepreneurs through funding;

  • Skills and expertise shortage through technical and business training.

-Ends-

About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centres/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 110,000 plus employees achieved sales of 19.6 billion euros in 2010, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy. www.schneider‑electric.com/company 

For further information, please call:
Schneider Electric
Sakina Tazun
Tel: +971 4 7099 624 
Email: sakina.tazun@schneider-electric.com   

APCO Worldwide (Jiwin Public Relations)
Mathilda Saad
M: +971 55 6999 890
Tel: +971 4 361 3879
Email: msaad@apcoworldwide.com

© Press Release 2012