UAE and France make strong business ties

The French Business Council (FBC) started its journey in the UAE as a businessman's club 22 years ago and went on to become the French Chamber of Commerce for Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Set up in 1987, it is a non-profit local association and was started by French businessmen and the commercial section of the French Embassy. It is affiliated to the Union des Chambres de Commerce et d'Industrie Francaise a l'Etranger, a worldwide network of 114 French Chambers of Commerce. It has around 400 members, mainly representatives of French companies in the UAE or representatives of local companies trading with France.

Emirates Business spoke to Fabienne Lucas, Director, FBC, to find out a little more about the council's work.

How does the FBC support business growth?

Economic links between France and the UAE are constantly growing. In 2007, French exports to the UAE, 60 per cent of which were done by small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs), reached €3.6 billion (Dh17.8bn).

France is the seventh-largest exporter to the UAE. And the UAE is the biggest customer of France in the GCC as it absorbs one third of the French exports to the region.

Around 12,000 French people live in the UAE and there are 300 French companies here, of which more than 50 per cent are in Dubai. They are mainly represented in the retail sector, services and industry. Among them, more than 250 companies are members of the FBC.

The FBC aims at gathering companies as well as individuals dedicated to promoting business ties and creating a wide network of close links in and between Dubai, the Northern Emirates and France.

The FBC is based around three branches of activities: events and communications, placement and HR services and business development. Our main objectives are to promote and develop business and commercial relationships in and between Dubai, the Northern Emirates and France, to provide business support to FBC members and French exporters to set up or increase their business in the UAE and to keep the FBC business community abreast of all the news through an array of services.

What does the FBC do to further business relations between the UAE and France?

The FBC tries to create a bridge between the UAE and French businesses. During our business development missions, we try to find links between French exporters and local distributors. We do this through renowned local groups that are part of our Supporting Committee (Paris Gallery, Al Naboodah, Jashanmal…), and through different events such as conferences and meetings where we bring together representatives of both cultures. Through the FBC's placement and HR services we form a link between French professionals and the local businesses.

We also hold social events such as the FBC gala dinner where our members invite their own clients and also get a chance to meet some representatives of the French and UAE Governments, Chambers of Commerce and decision-makers of world-renowned companies.

What expertise does France provide to the UAE?

There are a lot of things that France is well-known for globally and we provide expertise to the UAE in these traditional forte of France. Apart from the hospitality and the luxury goods sector like perfumes, jewellery and fashion, French companies are also well represented in sectors such as telecom, infrastructure, transport, energy through a number of leading companies and specialised SMEs. Despite the fact that we have strong competitors all around the world, the French people and companies remain strongly represented in those sectors here.

How does the FBC find the UAE as a business destination?

Dubai remains a place where opportunities to settle a successful business are possible. The model on which Dubai was built remains the same with or without the crisis: a hub for transportation of people and merchandise, a strategic place for having more than two billion potential customers and a crossroad between Western and Eastern business worlds.

In the past 22 years, what changes have you witnessed in business patterns?

Dubai was wrongly seen as a place where everything was possible for everybody. Of course, things were easier than in Europe, but it was not the new "Eldorado" that people were looking for. That is why some of them were very disappointed to find a place where, despite a huge growth and incredible opportunities, obligations to be professional, with a sustainable development model and a serious offer (good product, right price, quality…) were just like anywhere else, inescapable.

Today, it is obvious to everybody that only businessmen with the capabilities to deliver the right product for the right demand will develop their business in UAE.

How do you plan to strengthen UAE-French business relations in these difficult times?

By continuing to meet national groups and companies to look for business opportunities and potentials partners. By strengthening our links with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and by giving accurate information to our members and to the French companies who want to set up business in the UAE. By helping in the placement of Emirati people in French companies and French people in Emirati firms.

How does the FBC plan to help the regional economy recover the global crisis?

Given the present global economic conditions the UAE has also suffered a slowdown. But no crisis lasts forever and this one, as the ones in the past, will come to an end soon and the UAE and Dubai in particular have the capability to recover more quickly than any other country. We are also doing our bit to aid this recovery.

Seventeen days of presentation of Dubai's business potentials called "UAE days" were made through the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) network to promote the business development in the Emirates. We will continue to promote Dubai as one of the most favourable countries in the world to operate a business. Locally, we will help the established companies, our members or future members, to benefit from our network to develop their visibility and their business by creating a stronger network and consequently, we will be part of the recovery of the wealth and the growth of Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

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