French delegation eyes business investments.Byline: ARTHUR MACDONALDMANAMA: A high-powered business delegation from France visited Bahrain this week in a move to increase trade and investment between the countries. Leading French companies like energy and transport infrastructure group Alstom and Veolias Environmental Services The various combinations of scientific, technical, and advisory activities (including modification processes, i.e., the influence of manmade and natural factors) required to acquire, produce, and supply information on the past, present, and future states of space, atmospheric, , the world's second largest waste management company, were among 21 international industry leading firms represented on the visit. The visit was organised by Medef International, the French employers' federation with a view to boosting existing business with the kingdom. During the one-day trip the businessmen met Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister A Deputy Prime Minister or Vice Prime Minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting Prime Minister when the real Prime Minister is temporarily absent. Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Deputy Finance Minister Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. They also held talks with Works and Housing Minister Fahmi Al Jowder and Bahrain Mumtalakat deputy chief executive Mahmood Al Kooheji, The delegation was led by senior French diplomat and former European Commissioner A European Commissioner is a member of the 27-member European Commission. Each Commissioner within the college holds a specific portfolio and are led by the President of the European Commission. In simple terms they are the equivalent of national ministers. Yves Thibault de Silguy, who is now chairman of Vinci Construction, the biggest French contractor which is involved in the development of the Bahrain-Qatar causeway. He said Bahrain's was the most open in the GCC GCC: see Gulf Cooperation Council. (compiler, programming) GCC - The GNU Compiler Collection, which currently contains front ends for C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, and Ada, as well as libraries for these languages (libstdc++, libgcj, etc). and had become increasingly attractive to French business and investment. "Bilateral bilateral /bi·lat·er·al/ (-lat´er-al) having two sides, or pertaining to both sides. bi·lat·er·al adj. 1. Having or formed of two sides; two-sided. 2. trade is not massive at the moment between the two countries but it is growing quickly," he said. Last year French exports to the kingdom increased by 20 per cent to BD55 million. But this trade, largely in consumer goods consumer goods Any tangible commodity purchased by households to satisfy their wants and needs. Consumer goods may be durable or nondurable. Durable goods (e.g., autos, furniture, and appliances) have a significant life span, often defined as three years or more, and equipment and semi finished products, rose by 41pc to BD50m in the first eight months of this year. The value of French imports from the kingdom, largely petroleum and aluminium products, increased by 66pc in the first eight months of the year, partly because of the rise in the oil price. "Bahrain has many advantages as an opportunity for French business," said Mr de Silguy. "It is a country that understands globalisation. It was the first country in the region with oil and it will be the first to be without oil so it has started diversification Diversification A risk management technique that mixes a wide variety of investments within a portfolio. It is designed to minimize the impact of any one security on overall portfolio performance. Notes: Diversification is possibly the greatest way to reduce the risk. and that is good for the business environment." "The financial system is very efficient and the quality of the people, the human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. is very good," he added. business@gdn.com.bh Copyright [c] 2008 Gulf Daily News Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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