The French Business Group plans to stage its third Advanced Technology forum in Abu Dhabi next year after the successful conclusion yesterday of its forum on telecommunications.
Speaking on the sidelines of ‘Building Today’s Next Generation Network’, Jean Pierre Giraud, President of the French Business Group, said: “French industry has the capacity and expertise to increase the international competitiveness and sophistication of UAE telecoms, and this forum has been an invaluable opportunity for both clients and suppliers to consolidate existing relationships and explore new ones.”
He said: “Our event last year on sustainable energy was well received, and this year’s gathering was a timely opportunity to explore the new challenges and opportunities of telecommunications. Next year, the Advanced Technology forum will explore a fresh topic equally relevant to the task of strengthening ties between UAE and French business.”
French and UAE telecommunications companies will seek closer partnerships as the UAE makes Next Generation Network technology a reality, Giraud said. Last year, non-oil trade between the UAE and France stood at AED2.43 billion.
Addressing delegates yesterday on day two of the group’s telecoms and multimedia forum, Saleem Al-Balooshi, Manager Engineering for Internet Protocol Development at Etisalat, said Etisalat had already begun migrating to a Next Generation Network with voice, video and data from a single source.
Al-Balooshi said: “We see the need to differentiate ourselves by providing value-added services to our customers. New and customised services and applications such as IPTV, data sharing and e-learning are some examples of the advanced and high-bandwidth requirements of the customers we now serve.”
Also on day two, French company Thomson presented on the potential of mobile TV and Gilles Merle of VIACESS addressed delegates on IPTV. In a joint conference session, senior representatives of Alcatel Space and Thales presented their alliance in the space industry.
David Rivard, Regional Director of Marais, discussed underground telecommunications networks, and Aida Kalla, Regional Head of Structured Finance at BNP Paribas, spoke on media and telecoms investment issues.
Titled ‘Building Today’s Next Generation Network’, the French Business Group’s telecoms forum was opened on Tuesday by His Excellency Patrice Paoli, the French Ambassador to the UAE. Etisalat and du were main sponsors of the two-day gathering, which was also supported by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The French Business Group, a private, non-profit association, was created in Abu Dhabi in 1974 and was officially registered in 1996 by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Abu Dhabi Municipality. It is affiliated to the French Chambers of Commerce Association (UCCIFE), which is present in more than 90 countries worldwide.
The FBG’s main objective is to promote French interests in Abu Dhabi through the exchange of information and by representing French businesses that have no presence in Abu Dhabi. Members of the FBG include both French and UAE companies. The French Business Group is run by a 12-member Board of Directors, and its President is Jean Pierre Giraud.
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