Well-known French companies will exhibit their products and technologies in a trade show that is taking place as part of a gala French Week in the capital from November 23. says UNB.
President Shahabuddin Ahmed will inaugurate the French Trade Show at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel at 10.30 am. to be arranged by the France-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFB).
A week-long French food festival, fashion show and two seminars will also be held alongside the trade show, the first such event in Dhaka by French companies seeking to establish closer business links with Bangladesh.
"One objective of the show is to promote more presence of French companies in Bangladesh as well as to exhibit their high technology, equipments and consumer goods." said Bertrand Desruelles. the French Trade Commissioner in Dhaka.
Speaking at a press confer-
ence yesterday, he said a large team from the French Textile Machinery Association will be visiting Dhaka in connection with the trade show to present their textile technology.
■ Desruelles and Francis Dubus, the CCIFB president, gave details about the participating companies who cover aquaculture, cosmetics, engineering. leather, paper, textiles, banks, power, pharmaceuticals and telecom.
Dubus. also the General Manager of the Banque Indo-suez in Dhaka, said about 32 companies have already confirmed their participation in the three-day trade snow which will continue up to November 25.
"We're expecting that one or two more companies will par-ticipate in the exhibiUon." he told newsmen at the conference room of Banque Indosuez. one of the leading French banks with branches all over the world.
Both Desruelles and Dubus indicated that the prime objec-
tive of the trade show is to encourage the French companies to do more business in Bangladesh in order to narrow the present trade imbalance now against France.
During the first eight months of 1997 (January-August), Bangladesh's exports to France totalled 228 million US dollars while its Imports from the European country valued at 63 million dollars.
Bangladesh's imports from France was picking up since 1993, but the Import figures declined during the January-August 1997 period. French imports from Bangladesh, however, showed almost steady growth.
Readymade garments and knitwear comprise 90 per cent of the exports from Bangladesh to France, the fourth largest buyer of Bangladesh garments behind the United States, Germany and United Kingdom.
As textiles comprise the major portion of Bangladesh's exports to France, the CCIFB is giving highest emphasis on the
participation of the French tex: tile machinery companies in the trade show.
Of the 32 companies in the show, seven are related with the textile sector and they are expected to display the complete line of textile machinery and equipment, said Dubus.
Two textile-related seminars will be held on November 24 and 25 in collaboration with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).
The experts from the French Textile Machinery Association will speak on the textile and readymade garment sectors. They will also cooperate on textile technology with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, said Desruelles.
During the week-long French Food Festival, which will continue upto November 27, the organisers will arrange French cuisine at different restaurants and coffee shops of the Dhaka Sheraton.
Renowned French chef Pierre Potel, who had been employed by some famous hotels in Paris like Lucas Carton and the Plaza Athenee. will be flown in from France-
Maltre Potel. who also worked with Guy Savoy in Paris and Alain Ducasse-Loulx XV in Monacco before taking over his father's Le Cappeville in Gisors. will be assisted by Francis Metals In his bid to offer the French specialities.
Fashion creations of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, one of the top 10 French fashion designers. will be displayed on November 24 over the Dhaka Sheraton pool with choreography. arranged by Bibi Productions.
Collections of children s wear by designer Ko and Co. a venture by Jeanne-Blanche de Castelbajac, will also be shown
The event — French Fashions Over the Pool — will be repeated on November 25. Soon after the fashion shows. Maitre Potel. will present two" dinners —' Flavour from Versailles and
Flavour from France.
The French Trade Commissioner and the CCIFB chief hoped that the French Week would be a successful one after the French export catalogue show in November last year, the first event of the chamber in Dhaka.
"Let's hope for developing business further." remarked Dubus who hoped that his chamber, which has presently 35-40 members, would be able to arrange such trade show every year.
The companies who will participate in the trade show are Sepia, L'Oreal. BCEOM. Mercier Turner. IGN. France Slab. Thomson Broadcast. Bureau Veritas. Lectra System. Staubll. ICBT Inti. Ateliers de Belmont. N Schlumberger. Superba. Laroche. Banque Indosuez. So Clete Generate. GEC Normabar. Schneider. Legrand. Wartsila. Baudouln. Rhone-Poulenc. Systra. Alcatel CH". Alcatel Equip. Safare-Crouzet. Sofre-com RVT-Camlva and Degre-mont.