The Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC), the official representative organisation for business women - both professionals and entrepreneurs in Dubai, along with the French Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates, announced their first trade mission agenda to France, taking place until June 4 in Paris.

It aims to promote business opportunities for both countries and to explore bilateral synergies for the advancement of future collaborations between Dubai, the greater UAE, and France, said a statement.

The mission will be led by Dr Raja Easa Saleh Al Gurg, president of the DBWC and managing director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG), and organised by accredited business women Agnes Lopez-Cruz, director of the French Business Council of Dubai and the Northern Emirates (FBC); Nadine Halabi, manager – Business Development, DBWC, and Julie Barbier Leblan, general secretary of the FBC, founder of FBC women business club and managing partner of MyList.

French multinational company Thales, a leader in electrical systems, aerospace, defense, transportation is also among the biggest sponsors of the mission.

As many as 15 high profile Emirati and French business women are part of this delegation to France, which kicked off on May 31.

The delegates will participate in a five day visit to France to increase awareness on French enterprises and savoir-faire in Dubai.

The mission is expected to strengthen the business contacts and expand the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

“As the epicenter for business advancement in Dubai, along with being the strongest promoter of women empowerment in the UAE, it is our biggest aspiration to strengthen ties with likeminded countries, like France, to strengthen business relationships between our two countries,” said Dr Al Gurg.

“This trade mission is supported by a strong delegation of influential female leaders from both the UAE and France who have mutual intentions to explore how our two countries can increase business relations and we look forward to the outcome of this mission for the betterment of both countries.”

The UAE is France’s first trade partner in the Middle East. Further to a series of governmental visits, France and the UAE have committed themselves to expand the trade volume between the two countries by 50 per cent over the coming five years, as well as doubling the number of tourists. 

Joint development projects in third party countries will also be launched, as stated in the tripartite agreement France – UAE – Egypt, which has been signed by Anne-Marie Idrac in March. - TradeArabia News Service