Forums
Business Engagement Summit 2020
On Tuesday, 3rd March 2020, the Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) and the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates organized jointly the 3nd edition of the Emirati-French Business Engagement Summit for sustainable and futuristic mobility solutions at RTA HQ.
In the presence and the welcome speeches from H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Executive Directors at RTA, H.E. Ludovic Pouille Ambassador of France to the UAE and Geoffroy Bunetel, President of the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates, more than 220 senior executives and leaders joined this event, representing more than 45 public and private entities based in Dubai and in France. It was an unique opportunity to meet the Roads and Transport Authority decision makers as well as French MNCs and startups in the transport and mobility industry.
“Through the Emirati-French Business Engagement Summit, RTA stressed the importance of maintaining the public-private cooperation. The summit opened new horizons for applying smart technologies and practices in support of the existing and future transit services. This course of action fits well with RTA’s strategy for transport systems and roads networks,” said Ibrahim Al-Haddad, Director of Commercial & Development at RTA's Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector.
The summit included keynote speeches, discussion panels and a pitch session with four main topics. The first was related to projects and initiatives about the first and last-mile challenge. It examined Dubai’s strategic objectives and Plan 2020. Discussions touched on the role of the private sector in promoting the first and last-mile strategy along with the challenges of integrating it with the mainstream public transport network.
The second topic was sustainable and environment-friendly transport. Discussions covered RTA’s sustainable transport policy; which is built on sustainable structures, climate change, and the efficient use of resources. A discussion panel was held between RTA and representatives of French companies to examine sustainable transport issues and initiatives.
The third topic related to data analysis and how to apply artificial intelligence technologies to future projects. RTA identified potential mobility data fields such as traffic movement, planning mobility demand, shared transport and smart carparking. RTA stressed the benefits of big data in improving resources, curbing environmental impact, enhancing customers experience, and boosting public safety.
The fourth topic highlighted the importance of digital transactions such as blockchain, and looked into RTA’s blockchain projects and roadmap. A session was held to discuss initiatives and ideas contributed by French private firms about blockchain and smart mobility. RTA’s representatives were engaged with the presentations made and asked for further clarifications of ideas put forward.
Emirati-French Business Forum for Future of Energy & Innovation
On Wednesday, 3rd July 2019, the French Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Business France organized the 2nd edition of the Emirati-French Business Forum for future of energy and innovation.
After the successful 1st edition in 2015, DEWA and the French stakeholders agreed to organize a 2nd Business Forum to pursue the French/Emirati dialogue on Energy and Sustainability, one of the 3 pillars of Expo 2020. H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer , MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), H.E. Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of France to the UAE, and Geoffroy Bunetel, President of the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates attended the event and delivered a speech.
DEWA’s 2021 strategy is aligned to the UAE Centennial 2071, the UAE Vision 2021, and the Dubai Plan 2021 to secure a happy future and a better life for future generations.
This event was dedicated to
- Strengthen the business links between DEWA and the French business community.
- Work on potential fields of mutual cooperation that are of immediate interest to DEWA.
- Call for innovative French talents in the Energy, Environment and Water industries to propose smart innovations, new technologies and business models.
Read the press articles
READ THE PROGRAM
Sharjah-France Economic Forum
The Sharjah-France Economic Forum co-organized by the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry held in Sharjah on July the 1st, 2019.
In the presence and the welcome speeches from H.E. Ludovic Pouille Ambassador of France to the UAE, H.E. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, H.E. Raja Rabia, Consul General of France to Dubai and Geoffroy Bunetel, President of the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates.
More than 85 participants joined this event: French companies both MNCs and SMEs, Sharjah-based professionals and economic local authorities such as Sharjah Economic Development Department, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Authority.
A fast moving Emirate with high potential and ambition on different fields discussed around sectorial workshops such as Education & Culture tourism, Energy & sustainability, Healthcare and Tourism & Hospitality. consumer goods. Many exciting hospitality projects also including on the East Coast.
Read the press articles
Forum "Working Together"
The "Working Together" Forum consists of a series of meetings between multinationals and SMEs, lasting 20-minute each. It is an effective platform for companies wishing to explore and develop their existing business opportunities.
This event is organised in collaboration with French and Emiraties authorities and is followed by a networking luncheon. Launched in 2016, more than 200 B2B meetings were held every year.
Here are the main sectors represented during the "Working Together" Forum:
- ACCOUNTING
- COMMUNICATION / PR
- BUSINESS COUNSULTING DEVELOPMENT
- ARCHITECTURE / INTERIOR DESING / DECORATION / DESIGN
- EVENTS MANAGEMENT
- HUMAN RESSOURCES / RECRUITMENT
- INSURANCE / FINANCE
- LOGISTICS / FRET / TRANSPORTATIN / AIRLINES / IT
- TELECOMMUNICATION / DIGITAL
- FRENCH and LOCAL AUTHORITIES
- Frequency : every year
- Attendees : 100 to 150 companies, SMEs, Start-ups and MNCs
Economic Forum UAE-France 2017
On the occasion of the venue of President Emmanuel Macron, in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the French Business Council organized the first UAE-France Economic Forum in November 2017.
The first UAE-France Economic Forum has been held on Thursday, 9th Novembre 2017, in Zayed University, Dubai. Around 400 representatives of French and Emirati companies participated to the forum. This high-level forum aimed to bolster bilateral economic relationship between the UAE and France.
The event was structured with 3 different panels focused on the main pillars of the Dubai Expo 2020: "Opportunity", "Mobility" and "Sustainability".
High-level industry experts, including Fetchr, DP WORLD, RTA, JC Decaux, RATP DEV, DEWA, Masdar, EDF and Engie Group, shared knowledge and insights, and discussed prospects for future cooperation in these areas between UAE and France.
During the event, H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Benjamin Griveaux, State Secretary to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chaiman, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, H.E. Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 and H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of France have underlined the importance and potential UAE and France have to work together.
During the day, several strategic partnerships have been signed.
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also signed a MOU with the French Chamber of Commerce Paris Ile-de-France with the support of the French Business Council Dubai aiming to enhance cooperation between the two organizations especially in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation and economic exchange.
H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, closed this first UAE-France Economic Forum by reaffirming France commitment to strengthen the cooperation with the UAE, highlighting the importance of creating connections and bridges between our two countries.
For the event, the Dubai Chamber and the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates have published a magazine "Economic Relations between UAE & France - An overview".
Business Engagement Summit 2017
On Monday, September 25, 2017 was held the Forum France-RTA, the first Franco-Emirati Forum on PPP investments in the field of urban mobility innovations and Smart City.
The FBC is proud to announce the first Forum organized in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). This is a call to French expertise in the field of urban mobility innovations and Smart City.
Around 200 participants attended, including managers of French companies and start-ups operating in the mobility sector, the RTA and other public authorities based in Dubai.
5 different workshops were organized during the event
- INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
- FIRST & LAST MILE STRATEGY
- OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE OF TRANSPORT NETWORKS
- PASSENGERS/CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCE
- TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
Business Engagement Summit 2019
On Monday, 25th February 2019, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates organized jointly the 2nd edition of the Emirati-French Business Engagement Summit for future of mobility and innovation.
The event aimed to
- Strengthen the business links between RTA and the French business community.
- Work on potential fields of mutual cooperation that are of immediate interest to RTA.
- Call for French talents in the transport industry and urban innovations to propose new technologies and business models.
Around 65 French companies and 200 C-level participants attended the event. It was an unique opportunity to meet the Roads and Transport Authority decision makers as well as French MNCs and startups in the transport and mobility industry.
Attendees included HE Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of France to the United Arab Emirates, Raja Rabia, Consul General of France in Dubai, and Patrick Pélata, Advisor to the French President for Autonomous Vehicle Affairs. The event drew the participation of 65 organisations representing French public and private sectors from both UAE and France.
The summit included two discussion panels, followed by three workshops:
- the first panel was about "Commercial Transformation in the Context of Public Transport Services". Participants included Ibrahim Al Haddad, Director of Commercial and Investment at the RTA, Sophie Hassan, Head of Innovation for RATP DEV , Benoit Richard, CEO/Co-Founder of YUZO, and Francois Bruyant, Senior VP Business Development for the MEA Region of Transdev.
- the second discussion panel delt with "Future of Mobility: Digitalisation and Autonomous Vehicles" hosted speakers like Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO, Public Transport Agency and Head of the Smart & Sustainable Transport Committee at the RTA; Pierre Schaeffer, SVP Marketing Chief Officer of Thales; Pierre Chehwan, Director of Strategic Alliance and Institutional Relationship of NAVYA,; Arnaud Vitou, Deputy Director Autonomous Transport Systems of Transdev and Cyrille Giraudat, SVP Marketing Digital Innovation of RATP DEV.
Workshops included the following themes:
- Autonomous vehicles with a presentation from Khaled Abdulrahman Al Awadhi - Director, Transportation Systems Departement for the RTA,
- Smart Cities with a presentation from Maher Farid Shirah - Director, Information Technology Support Services for the RTA
- Use of Big Data & Digitalisation, with a presentation from Abdulla Al Bastaki - Director, Technology Strategy & Governance Department for the RTA
Workshops were followed by individual introductions from all the participants to the RTA, to explore synergies and possible cooperation.
