Newsletter June 2021

Dear Members,

We are excited to announce the launch of the France Ireland Business Directory, which will be an online reference for all companies involved in the Franco Irish business space and a comprehensive listing of Irish companies operating in France. We encourage all Irish companies in France to register their details in the directory from today. This is a great opportunity for companies to highlight and promote their activity and we would ask members to please forward the link to any applicable Irish companies that may not be on this mailing list. 

In this newsletter, you will also hear about our most recent webinar with Dr James McCabe, and our next event on June 30th with a terrific line-up of various experts who will discuss the new dynamics of Franco-Irish trade relations post-Brexit.

Our AGM will take place on Monday, July 5th and all members will receive a separate official invitation. We do hope that as many members as possible can join us virtually to help review the year, plan the next 12 months and welcome our new Board of Directors.

A special mention for the France Ireland Business Awards 2021, applications for which are now open. Full details in the article below.

Finally, we truly hope to return to physical and perhaps some 'phygital' events at the rentrée but in the meantime we wish you all a wonderful, relaxing and energising summer!

Your NetworkIrlande team

NETWORK NEWS

FRANCE IRELAND BUSINESS DIRECTORY LAUNCH

The France Ireland Business Directory is a joint initiative by the Embassy of Ireland in Paris and NetworkIrlande to showcase Irish businesses operating in France.

We believe that this directory will serve as an important information source for Irish businesses currently operating in France, and for those wishing to engage with them.   At this exciting time for trading connections between Ireland and France, our closest EU neighbour, opportunity beckons! Our shared participation in the EU Single Market and the many new direct maritime routes – approximately 40 crossings per week – linking our two countries, create new prospects for growth in trade between Ireland and France.

The aims of the directory are to:

- Encourage trade and investment between Ireland and France;

- Demonstrate the scale and distribution of the Irish business community in France

- Foster greater synergy among the Irish business community in France.

We hope that established Irish businesses in France, Irish businesses considering entering the French market and French businesses with significant Irish trade can use this new platform to their advantage. The directory will provide the opportunity for networking among the Franco-Irish business community, connect new businesses to the wider Irish business community in France, and help Irish companies to attract new clients.

In short, we believe this directory is a positive initiative that will provide support for businesses, and equally give all of us a greater insight into the Irish business community in France.  We therefore warmly invite you to join this directory by signing up HERE. The directory will be a live document hosted online, which can be updated by you in real time.

If you have any queries or wish to discuss this initiative further, please do not hesitate to contact us at admin@networkirlande.com or our colleagues at the Embassy at FranceIrelandBusinessDirectory@dfa.ie .

IRELAND FRANCE BUSINESS AWARDS 2021

The France Ireland Chamber of Commerce and NetworkIrlande are pleased to inform you of their collaboration once again this year on the Annual Business Awards, the Franco-Irish business Award recognising excellence in the economic relationship between France and Ireland.

The Awards will be made to companies selected by the Jury which will be chaired by Eoin Scott of Motherboard, and Treasurer / Secretary General of FICC. The Award winners will receive their awards during a Gala Dinner ceremony in Dublin on Thursday 25^th November.

This is a great opportunity for you to nominate an organisation which you believe has been successful in promoting the expansion of trade and investment, together with the development of business links, between France and Ireland.

In recognition of the importance of the contribution of entrepreneurship to the development of trade between Ireland and France, the Jury have decided to dedicate an award this year to SMEs and Entrepreneurs.  This award is called "Franco-Irish Business - Rising Star" .

Companies may also apply directly.

For your information, last year the winners of the Annual Business Awards 2020 were

• Groupe Adéquat for Best French Company in Ireland 
• Kingspan Global for Best Irish Company in France 
• Co-assist for Franco-Irish Business Rising Star

You will find the links to the four documents below:

1.     Call for Applications Ireland France Business Awards 2021

2.     Entry Form Business Awards 2021 - Best French Company in Ireland

3.     Entry Form Business Awards 2021 - Best Irish Company in France

3.     Entry Form Business Awards 2021 - Special Jury's Award - Franco-Irish Business Rising Star

Please return the entry form, duly completed, by Friday 17^th September at 12.00 noon to: Léa Biagi France Ireland Chamber of Commerce at info@franceireland.ie

Recent Events

 WEBINAR WITH DR JAMES MCCABE

An excellent exchange with Dr James McCabe who expertly answered the many questions put forward by members notably on the boundaries of story-telling in a professional context, ethics, truth,  'green washing' and how to tell a French story to an Irish audience. Participants came away with invaluable insights on narrative focus; why you should not necessarily put the focus on what you are doing, or even why, but what makes you different. Concentrate on your audience not on yourself, ask what customer dilemma can this organisation address or what employer dilemma does my career exist to resolve? In a world where there is no such thing anymore as a captive audience, James spoke of the necessity of crystalising an idea or a concept by transferring it into an emotional equivalent, concentrating on feelings and not formula and using empathy, suspense and surprise to create your memorable story.

James kindly shared a handout on 'Why Dramatics Eats Analytics For Lunch'.  Those who may have missed the webinar may request it by sending an email to admin@networkirlande.com.

Upcoming Events

BEYOND BREXIT : THE NEW DYNAMICS OF FRANCO-IRISH TRADE RELATIONS

Mark your agendas for our next event on June 30th in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland.

We will welcome a varied panel of experts to discuss the post Brexit dynamics of Franco-Irish trade relations. Following the webinar we will open up an online networking forum with one to one meetings for those interested in exploring the issues and opportunities discussed in further detail and exchanging directly with panellists and fellow attendees.

Save the date, full program & registration link to follow shortly!

Welcome To Our New Members

BUSINESS MEMBERS

The Roaming Schoolhouse have been providing meaningful education to bilingual children in a fun and structured environment since 2006 when it was created by Cate O'Connor. Weekly classes and/or holiday day camps give ample opportunity to improve language skills through phonics, creative writing, topic based learning, drama, art and sport. Visit The Roaming Schoolhouse at roamingschoolhouse.com.

Follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. 

A Private Golf Estate in the Loire Valley with Chateau du Coudreceau

Enjoy your own private golf course at Chateau du Coudreceau (www.cducestates.com), an 18^th century private home in the Loire Valley, now available for exclusive use. Chateau du Coudreceau redefines luxury golf with no members, no tee times and no restrictions allowing guests the freedom to express their game on a world-class championship-quality golf course.

All the beautifully appointed suites take inspiration from French artists and pay homage to the Chateau's heritage through the décor. Swim in the indoor pool or use the fitness studio. Enjoy superb dining in the Chateau's resplendent dining room with wine from the 250-year old cellar. The exquisite dining service combines the stunning flavours of the region with the expertise of the kitchen team led by its talented executive chef.

Chateau du Coudreceau is easily accessed by private jet via Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel private airfield just 20 minutes away, or by a 90-minute drive, south of Paris. 

Follow the company on Instagram.

The HANNON Transport Group has over 15 years' experience in European temperature-controlled transport across the fruit & vegetable, meat, dairy, food services, fresh cut flowers, horticultural and pharma sectors.

HANNON provides tailored solutions for the cost effective, responsive, and reliable transportation of temperature-controlled products.

The HANNON Group has transport bases in France, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and its own dedicated in-house Customs Administration Team.

Hannon Logistics SAS (France) is strategically located in Rungis PARIS, the World's largest fresh produce market and offers a daily direct Groupage Service between France and Ireland.

The HANNON Group is BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution and AEO certified.

Follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Conor Stokes

Darragh McElligott

Recent Member News

Other News & Events

Ireland – France Joint Declaration by Ministers Coveney & Le Drian

On the occasion of the recent visit of Minister Le Drian and Minister Beaune to Ireland an agreement was made to develop a substantive and strategic Joint Plan of Action between France and Ireland for adoption in the second half of 2021. Access the full document here.

ChooseFrance Awards 2021

In 2021, Business France is organizing, in conjunction with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Recovery, the Ministry for Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities and the Etats de la France (the annual economic conference on attractiveness), the third edition of the Choose France Awards focus on the "France Relance" plan. 
 
Choose France Awards aim at promoting foreign investors who have chosen France, as well as their contribution to the France Relance plan. 
If you are a foreign company established in France you can showcase your business's contribution to one of these three kea areas that meet the priorities of the "France Relance" (Recovery Plan): 

• Ecological Transition 
• Competitiveness & Innovation 
• Cohesion & Solidarity 

A Special "Contribution to the France Relance recovery plan" Prize and a Special "Talent" Prize will also be awarded by the Jury. Call for applications open online from Tuesday, June 15 until September 5 here.
 
The Awards Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the different ministries, will ensure the quality of entries submitted. The winners will be chosen by a high-profile Jury bringing together institutional key players and qualified business people and chaired by Pascal Cagni, Ambassador for International Investment and Chairman of Business France. 
 
The award ceremony will be held on 5 October 2021 at La Sorbone during the Etats de La France.
 

Covid Travel Updates

Find the latest updates in travel between France and Ireland on the website of the Embassy of Ireland to France HERE  and in French on the French Embassy in Ireland site HERE. 

Our Pioneer Members