The French Business Council (FBC) celebrated 25 years of close ties to the UAE with a gala dinner held recently at the Emirates Golf Club, attended by VIPs from both communities with close to 700 guests.

Guest of honour Hervé de Charrette, president of the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Former Foreign Affairs Minister, underlined the privileged bilateral relations between France and UAE and highlighted the leading role played by the Chamber in facilitating and developing the commercial relations and cooperation between France and the 22 countries of the Arab League.

The highlight of the evening was the ceremonial award of the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite to Hussain Al Jaziri, honourary president of the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates.

The award was presented by de Charrette on behalf of the President of the French Republic in recognition of Al Jaziri’s work in strengthening bilateral ties between the UAE and France.

VIPs and dignitaries at the event were French Ambassador to the UAE, Alain Azouaou; French Consul General, Eric Giraud-Telme; undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, Abdullah Al Saleh.

The Dubai business community was represented by leading figures, including Abdullah Al Naboodah, CEO of Al Naboodah.

Claude Valle, president, French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates, said: “The French business community in the UAE is very committed to the country and confident about the prospects for the region, built on the excellent relationships between the two. The FBC Dubai & Northern Emirates continues to develop strongly, with an increasingly active and growing membership.”
 
The number of registered French nationals in the UAE is 14,500 and the total community is estimated at 20,000.

The UAE became France’s leading trade partner in the GCC in 2011, with the value of French exports to the UAE rising to more than 3.5 billion Euros in 2011. The number of French companies based in the UAE stands at approximately 1,000 and is estimated to be increasing at around 10 per cent per annum.

For the 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner, the FBC adopted an innovative concept in which 12 renowned chefs based in Dubai prepared their specialities and also attended the event to personally present their dishes and meet guests. – TradeArabia News Service