The event was attended by 17 major companies, 7 competitiveness clusters and more than 70 international businesses recently established in Paris Region. Nearly 200 B2B meetings were organised as part of the business convention which opened the proceedings.

The Business Convention - 14.30-17.30
Bringing the Region's large companies and competitiveness clusters into contact with foreign companies is crucial to the development of Paris Region businesses. This was a networking session, a sort of business speed dating (meetings of 10 to 15 minutes), exclusively for international businesses which have located to Paris Region in the last three years. The aim was to put them in touch with major companies and competitiveness clusters, all PREDA partners playing their part in enhancing Paris Region's attractiveness.
"The Forum was created by PREDA to give the Paris Region business community an opportunity to formally welcome (...) foreign companies recently arrived in the Region. Some 200 foreign businesses locate to the Region each year, about half with PREDA's support", stated Jean-Claude Seys, Chairman of PREDA's Executive Board,  in his speech. "In addition to creating direct jobs, the arrival of new foreign companies in Paris Region generates indirect employment, contributes to the internationalisation of the business community and, at the same time, demonstrates and increases the economic attractiveness and image of Paris Region", he continued.

Themed Workshops - 17.30-18.30
The goal of the three workshops, aimed primarily at foreign SMEs already set up or looking to set up in Paris Region, was to identify ways to facilitate the establishment and development of these companies in the Region. The themes addressed were:

Reception: from 18.30
The event closed with a reception attended by Jean-Paul Huchon, Chairman of Paris Region, and Jean-Claude Seys, Chairman of the Paris Region Economic Development Agency, where participants were able to continue their discussions in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.