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Newsletter Q2 2023
Dear Members,
This quarter stands out for the wide diversity of events on offer to NetworkIrlande members; from private tours of art auctions in Sotheby's to fascinating exchanges with a nobel prize winner and rooftop cocktails on a summer evening, there really is a lot of occasions to network this month with a theme or a venue to suit everyone! You can read all about this quarter's events, past and upcoming, below.
A special call out to all members with contacts in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region as we are organising a gathering of the Franco-Irish business community on Friday June 9th and would like to hear from anyone who is interested in joining forces with us and exchanging on the future of the network in the region. Please contact us at admin@networkirlande.com if you would like to learn more.
Our summer drinks reception on June 21st celebrating our new Chamber of Commerce status and the beginning of the summer has nearly reached capacity so any members who would like to attend but have still not registered are advised to do so promptly to avoid dissappointment!
We look forward to meeting a maximum number of members over our upcoming events and our AGM before yielding to the slower pace of the summertime here in France where we will be behind the scenes preparing an incredible rentrée for you all.
Your NetworkIrlande Team
UPCOMING EVENTS
Lyon Business Breakfast
Friday, June 9th, 2023
As NetworkIrlande continues to develop its activity in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes this business breakfast will gather members of the Franco-Irish community from the region across various business sectors. The objectives of the meeting are both to provide an occasion for members of the community to connect, and to propose and discuss ideas and initiatives that would be of use and interest to members going forward.
The breakfast will be hosted by Emer Shanley, in the presence of Ciara de Mora, General Consul of Ireland and Claire Mercier, Managing Director of Enterprise Ireland Lyon.
All members of the business community are welcome however space is limited so please contact admin@networkirlande.com by June 7th latest should you wish to attend.
Summer Drinks at Pernod Ricard Paris HQ
Wednesday, June 21st, 2023
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In February of this year NetworkIrlande was officially recognised as 'La Chambre de Commerce et de l'Industrie franco-irlandaise' by the French Directorate General for Enterprise (DGE). This accreditation is in recognition of our solid membership base representing companies and professionals across a very diverse range of business sectors, and of our work to strengthen and promote the franco-irish business community through our regular networking activities and business-led events. We would like to invite all members to celebrate your network's new status at a summer drinks reception this June 21st.
The event is kindly hosted and sponsored by our Pioneer member Pernod Ricard in the impressive Skybar at their company headquarters in Paris.
DATE : Wednesday, June 21st, 2023
TIME : 6pm to 8pm
VENUE : Pernod Ricard, 5 cours Paul Ricard, 75008 Paris
In view of this iconic date celebrating all things music, we are delighted to have the wonderful Liv Monaghan trio to entertain us while we enjoy the magnificent views from the Pernod Ricard rooftop.
This event is open to all NetworkIrlande members however advance registration HERE is essential. Please note that we have nearly reached capacity for this event so we encourage anyone that has not already registered to please do so immediately to avoid dissappointment.
NetworkIrlande AGM
Wednesday, July 5th, 2023
Save the date for our AGM on Wednesday, July 5th. All members will shortly receive an official invitation with full meeting details. We hope to see as many members as possible present however if you should be unable to attend we would ask that you to please return the proxy form that will also be provided.
Recent Events
Cross Chamber Networking Event
May 25th, 2023
On May 25th NetworkIrlande got together with fellow anglophone chambers, AmCham, Franco British Chamber and the Australia France Business Association for a cross chamber networking event kindly hosted at the wonderful offices of the Franco British Chamber in Paris. It was a unique opportunity for Pioneer members of NetworkIrlande to meet directors from the leading American, British and Australian companies present in France with nearly 80 participants from across all chambers. Guests were welcomed by Thierry Drilhon, president of the Franco British Chamber, who spoke positively of the attractivity of France as a business partner and the multiple bilateral opportunities for foreign companies today. This positivity continued throughout the words of welcome from Eglé de Richement representing the AmCham, our own presdient Richard Dujardin and AFBA vice president Frédéric Calinaud. A special mention and homage was made for former AFBA president Bernard Tabary, unfortunately no longer with us and sorely missed at the event.
Many interesting encounters and exchanges were made on the evening and we look forward to continuing these cross chamber get-togethers going forward.
Private Tour of Sotheby's Irish Art Auction
May 4th, 2023
On the occasion of the recent Irish Art Auction at Sotheby's in Paris, NetworkIrlande members were kindly invited for a private tour of the collection on sale accompanied by a champagne reception. The sale included paintings, drawings and sculpture by Irish artists from the 19th century to the present day, led by Jack B. Yeats' Come on the Dawn. British and UK Art expert for Sotheby's, Charlie Minter, talked guests through the collection and the various links and cultural connections between Ireland and France in the domain of the visual arts. Two of the artists were also present, Orla de Bri and Rowan Gillespie, and members appreciated the opportunity to discuss their pieces directly with them. For those of you interested in following how the auction went and perhaps had their eye on any of the pieces, you can find the results of the auction online at sothebys.com.
OBJECTIVE : DECARBONISATION
April 19th, 2023
Decarbonisation was a very pertinent and appropriate theme for our event on April 19th as so many of our member companies are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and make it a priority to provide strategies and solutions to ensure a sustainable future. We were delighted to highlight some of these member companies in our expert roundtable with Ana Dubois, Group head of ESG and Carbon Reduction at Amarenco, Gavin O'Riain, Executive Director at Ecocem Global, Morgane Yvergnieux, Sustainable Sourcing and Regenerative Agriculture at Pernod Ricard and Pierre Yves Burlot, Sustainability Director at our host, Séché Environnement. The roundtable was very effectively moderated by Bastien Nossek, Senior Consultant at Carbone 4 who talked the panellists through the issues facing their respective industries and the solutions and strategies they are each putting in place to decarbonate.
We were very honoured to welcome the preeminent climatologist, Vetlesen prize winner, ex-vice president of the IPCC (GIEC) and truly inspirational, Mr. Jean Jouzel, who shared with us his wisdom on climate change, the environment and some of the salient points from the most recent report published by the IPCC which stands out in the fact that what was once hypothesis has now become a certainty and doing nothing is simply no longer an option if we wish to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.
Guests were treated to an amazing 360° view of Paris from the impressive Tour de Montparnasse offices of our hosts Séché Environnement while enjoying a champagne reception after the main event. Mr Maxime Séché generously gifted all guests with a copy of Mr. Jouzel's latest book 'Jean Jouzel - Entretiens' , personally and patiently autographed individually on site by the author himself - the icing on the cake for a truly exceptional evening.
St. Patrick's Day Trade Reception
March 16th, 2023
The Saint Patrick's Day trade reception at the Embassy of Ireland in Paris was a true celebration of Franco-Irish business with the presence of the Irish Minister for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation, Mr. Dara Calleary TD, alongside Mr. Roland Lescure, French Minister Delegate for Industry.
Ambassador Niall Burgess warmly welcomed all present and the reception kicked-off with a panel discussion featuring Ireland international prop Linda Djougang, who played with ASM Romagnat for a season before returning to Leinster last year, and Toulon forwards coach James Coughlan, who began a successful coaching career in France in 2017 after playing for two seasons in the back-row with Pau. They both discussed their experiences of playing and coaching in France and shared their predictions for the 2023 Rugby World Cup!
Irish produce was highlighted with a wonderful oyster bar complimented by Guinness and Bord Bia clients treated all attendees to a wide variety of Irish delicacies from cheese to chocolate!
Thank you to Ambassador Burgess and all the team at the Embassy of Ireland in Paris for hosting such an enjoyable evening. Many thanks also to the record number of NetworkIrlande members who made the event so vibrant and to our colleagues at Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Tourism Ireland who collaborated on the event.
Welcome To Our New Members
PIONEER MEMBERS
Options Technology is the No. 1 provider of IT infrastructure to global Capital Markets firms, supporting their operations and ecosystems.
Founded in 1993, the firm began life as a hedge fund technology services provider. Today, the company provides high-performance managed trading infrastructure and cloud-enabled managed services to over 550 firms globally.
Options clients include the leading global investment banks, hedge funds, funds of funds, proprietary trading firms, market makers, broker/dealers, private equity houses, and exchanges. These clients are supported daily, across over 20 countries, in a true 24x7 'follow the sun' model.
With offices in 9 key cities, Options are well placed to service its customers on-site and remotely.
For further information contact: Emma Sharkey, emma.sharkey@options-it.com
Visit http://www.options-it.com
BUSINESS MEMBERS
As local lawyers, committed to the heart of the territories, Fidal Avocats provide advice and litigation services and position ourselves as true partners to our clients: to anticipate tomorrow's challenges and offer you effective day-to-day operational solutions.
We work alongside our clients in a number of areas, including
- corporate, company law, mergers & acquisitions
- domestic and international taxation
- contract law
- Dispute resolution and arbitration
- employment law
- environmental law
- property law
- IP / IT
Our team is fully bilingual. Our commitment is to offer the best legal and tax expertise anywhere in the world, while guaranteeing the maintenance of a close relationship and a consistent quality of service.
For more information contact Aurélie Desbordes at aurelie.desbordes@fidal.com
Visit www.fidal.com
Matrix Internet is a full-service digital agency with offices in Dublin and Brussels. Our International Division specialises in strategies for export diversification, identifying new market opportunities and developing go-to-market eCommerce plans for:
- Enterprise Ireland clients and other Irish companies who want to expand into Europe.
- International clients with an ambition to develop an international growth strategy.
Thinking digitally means thinking globally. With a focused international strategy, your potential target audience can grow by millions. Matrix can help you reach these future customers through an integrated customised strategy, including:
- Comprehensive digital audits
- Discovery workshops
- International market research and intelligence gathering
- Developing value propositions and localised messaging for each segment
For more information contact Una Louli, info@matrixinternet.eu
Visit https://www.matrixinternet.ie/
Owning a second home in France can be a dream come true, but managing it from afar can be a daunting task. Who will oversee the renovation work? How to set up payment of bills and taxes? Who will do the cleaning? What happens in the event of a leak?
TAYLORED PROPERTY offers clients the peace of mind of a fully bilingual, on-site property management service overseeing the administration, cleaning and maintenance of your property in your absence. Their experienced staff are on-hand to carry out regular checks of the property and to deal with problems as they arise.
In addition, TAYLORED PROPERTY offers clients a range of concierge services including airport transfers, private chef services, guided tours of the flea market, wardrobe management, and advice on exhibitions, restaurants, and shopping to make your visits to your French property truly memorable.
Contact Louise Taylor Scott at louisetaylorscott@gmail.com
Individual Members
Barbara CLARKE
Claire GAFFNEY
Cillian GEOGHEGAN
John HARNEY
Thereze O'HAODH LEDUC
Anna O'NEILL
Jane POWER
Rebecca RYAN
Do consult the member directory in your member portal to find contact details for all your fellow members.
Recent Member News
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Amarenco have just raised 300M to finance their European expansion including two new storage facilities in the south-west of France. Read more here. |
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As Irish businesses navigate a trading environment impacted by inflation, rising interest rates and fluctuating consumer sentiment, the Bank of Ireland Sectors team examine the developments, challenges and opportunities across seven key elements of the Irish economy HERE. |
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Conall Mac Coille, Chief Economist at Davy, discusses in his latest insight how Ireland's economy outperformed in 2022 HERE. |
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Building materials supplier Cemex, and Ecocem have announced a new partnership, which will see the two companies work together from June 2023 to test and implement lower carbon solutions in France. Read more HERE. |
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GPMD have secured significant foreign investment notably from battery manufacturers Prologium and XTC as announced during the recent 'Choose France' summit. More details HERE |
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Kingspan has been shortlisted in the 'Implantation Etragère en France' category of the Trophées CCI France International 2023. Further details HERE. |
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Pernod Ricard has announced the signing of its first sustainability linked loan totalling €2.1BN which is linked to its environmental committments to reducing greenhouse gas emmissions and water consumption. More details HERE. |
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If you are looking for a place to stay during the Rugby World Cup Staycity have you covered. Check out their great RWC guide here and make sure to ask for your special NetworkIrlande rates as set out in your member portal when making your reservation! |
Other News & Events
The most recent France economic policy round-up compiled by the Embassy of Ireland to France can be found here.
Enterprise Ireland reports record exports at €32.1bn in 2022
Enterprise Ireland, the state agency of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment responsible for helping Irish companies to enter and expand in international markets, saw exports by companies it supports increase by 19% to a record €32.1bn in 2022.
This is the highest ever level of growth for Enterprise Ireland-backed companies in export value. Growth occurred across all overseas regions and in individual industry sectors.
Exports to the Eurozone increased by 28% in 2022, with the Eurozone now representing 25% of all exports by Enterprise Ireland backed companies. Expansion in trade with the Eurozone has taken place in tandem with strong Irish exports to the UK post-Brexit.
Exports to the UK increased by 13%, reaching €9.2bn. The UK now accounts for 29% of all exports by Enterprise Ireland backed companies.
Exports to the Eurozone increased by 28%, reaching €7.9bn.
Exports to North America increased by 13%, reaching €5.5bn. North America now accounts for 17% of all exports by Enterprise Ireland backed companies.
Increases in exports were recorded across all sectors with Food and Sustainability increasing by 23%, Technology and Services increasing by 18% and Industrial and Life Sciences increasing by 14%.
Further details can be found in the full press release here.
EY published its France Attractiveness Survey last month where France once again confirmed its place as the most attractive country in Europe for foreign investment. A summary of the report's findings can be found here.
VivaTech , Europe's biggest startup and tech event takes place in Paris from June 14th to 17th. Enterprise Ireland will be leading a pitch competition on Irish Innovation in SportsTech, with 6 Irish tech start-ups going head-to-head to showcase their sports technology solutions on Wednesday 14 June, 10:45-11:45 (Hall 1, Pitch Studio M28). Further details and sign up here.
Réseau Oudinot are organising their 'Rencontres Annuelles' at the Mairie of the 7th arrondissement in Paris on June 20th. This event is open to non-members and tickets may be purchased here.
The Irish Cultural Centre in Paris has lined up three days of discussions, work-shops, concerts and more to stimulate the sense and give food for thought - a 'Festival of Ideas'. Full details on all participants and to get your tickets here.
Our Pioneer Members
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