RAK FTZ attends 3rd Mondissimo International Mobility Conference in Paris
Tapping the vast potential of the French Market, the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority (RAK FTZ) participated in the 3rd Mondissimo International Mobility Conference in Paris last month.
RAK FTZ is looking to boost investments from France into Ras Al Khaimah and spread awareness about its products and services among French companies. With over 200 exhibitors, 43 conferences and 12 forums, the event presented a great opportunity for the free zone to highlight its salient advantages and showcase its key facilities and services.
Reinforcing the strategic importance of the French market, RAK FTZ CEO Oussama El Omari, led a delegation to the conference and made a presentation on “Growth opportunities in the Gulf Region.” Over 40 delegates attended the talk and showed immense interest in the world-class services on offer at RAK FTZ.
During the visit, El Omari also conducted a series of meetings with several high-ranking officials representing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris and The Franco Arab Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry. “Direct investments from France to the UAE multiplied tenfold in the past 10 years, and reached EUR 2.62 billion in 2009, representing 35% of French FDI in the Middle East. France is a strategic market for us, and we are keen to develop it further,” he said.
“The cost-effectiveness of setting up business at RAK FTZ, coupled with value-added services and easy access to markets in neighboring regions are salient advantages, which are unmatched. Our participation in the Mondissimo conference and the high-level discussions were very fruitful, and we look forward to closer collaboration in the future,” he added.
During the meetings, El Omari introduced the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and RAK FTZ in detail, and discussed how the chambers and the ministries could help French companies to set up operations in the free zone. Officials from RAK FTZ and the French establishment also discussed avenues for future collaboration, business visits and events across France and the UAE, as well as potential investment in a Ras Al Khaimah-based marina project by a French investor.
The Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry expressed great interest in helping French companies set up businesses in the GCC. A key take-away from the meeting was the special emphasis that the free zone places on small and medium-sized enterprises.
