Agence Régionale de Développement Paris Île-de-France

One of PREDA's key roles is to reinforce Paris Region as a host area for international businesses and to link them in to the various business networks, for it is these networks that stimulate the formation of partnerships and are a vital success factor.

And 2008 will be a particularly good year for networking!

The business convention (exclusively for international businesses established in Paris Region for under 3 years) will be followed by 3 themed workshops, open to all Paris Region businesses from all activity sectors, whether or not they belong to competitiveness clusters:

The event will close 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 discussions can continue in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
If you would like to attend the reception, sign up here

The business convention
This is a networking session, a sort of business speed dating (meetings of 10 to 15 mins), exclusively for international businesses which have located to Paris Region in the last three years. The aim is to put them in touch with the big groups and competitiveness clusters, all PREDA partners playing their part in enhancing Paris Region's attractiveness.
If your company is eligible and you would like to benefit from this networking opportunity and take part in this business convention sign up here

The workshops

Workshop 1: The banking and financial aspects of locating to Paris Region
Moderator: Vincent Durieux - Chief Operating Officer, Paris Region Economic Development Agency
Speakers include top experts:

• Hugues Bernard, regional representative of the BCME (Banque Commerciale pour le Marché de l'Entreprise)
• Patrice Coulon, Deputy Managing Director, GE France
• Florence Mulaton, partner of the In Extenso chartered accountancy firm which is part of the Deloitte group
• Arnaud de Bresson, Managing Director Paris Europlace and Competitiveness cluster Finance Innovation
• Maria Willait, Sales Executive, Jaspersoft
• Boris Auché, Open Source/Linux Solution Group Director, Bull

Workshop 2: The competitiveness clusters, unique networks that help boost SMEs' development
The spectacular increase in the number of partnerships in Paris Region is illustrated notably by the emergence of joint ventures within the competitiveness clusters.
Moderator: Vincent Gollain - Chief Economic Development Officer, Paris Region Economic Development Agency

• Henri Verdier, Chairman Cap Digital: Cap Digital, an international development vehicle for SMEs based in Paris Region.
• Sylvain Dorschner, chief representative System@TIC: How to increase System@TIC's role in attracting international businesses
• Thierry Delarbre, Managing Director of Advancity
• Brigitte Cardinael, head of steering research partnerships at France Telecom R&D: The big groups as development vehicles for SMEs within the competitiveness clusters
• Anne-Sophie Pignol, Responsible for FC2 project, Orange

Workshop 3: The major groups' initiatives to promote the development of SMEs
Siemens, Microsoft, BMW and others actively sponsor creative, innovative Paris Region SMEs and support their development.
Moderator: Régis Baudoin - CEO Paris Region Economic Development Agency
Speakers include:

• Eric de Riedmatten, Communication Director, BMW France
• François Gerin, Assistant General Manager, Siemens France
• Olivier Robinet, Local Development Manager, Total
• Thomas Defaye, Developement & Partnership Director, Microsoft

If you would like to attend one of the workshops, sign up here.

The Economic Development Agency is supported by all the Paris Region competitiveness clusters and by many global groups (of both French and international origin) which are actively working to enhance Paris Region's attractiveness and boost the development of SMEs.