Newsletter December 2020

Dear Members,

In this edition of our newsletter you can link back to our latest webinar where Minister Coveney answered your questions with a frankness and clarity appreciated by all. You will also find details of the winners of the Ireland France Business Awards 2020 who were announced at our virtual ceremony on November 26th.

We are already getting excited about our first events of January 2021 but, in the meantime, we are really looking forward to connecting with you all on December 16th at our annual Christmas reception - with a difference. Make sure to register below!

Our Member to Member advantage program continues to grow and we are delighted that two further business members have joined the initiative. Check out the new special offers from France Trade Direct and ISS in your member portal.

A gentle reminder that all memberships will be up for renewal on December 31st. Members can go ahead and renew online from today for 2021 to ensure a seamless transition into the new calendar year. The larger and more diverse our network, the more each and every member will get out of it, so at this year end we do encourage you to talk to any person or company in your entourage that might benefit from membership to NetworkIrlande. Membership for any new members that sign up from today will be effective immediately and until December 31st 2021.

With festive greetings and warm regards,

Your NetworkIrlande Team

Recent Events

A conversation with Minister Simon Coveney

Minister Coveney presented NetworkIrlande members with a concise overview of where Brexit negotiations are today and gave frank and clear answers to the many questions our members have regarding the Franco-Irish business relationship in the current climate.

We would encourage any members that were unable to join us live to listen back to the webinar on our website.

IRELAND FRANCE BUSINESS AWARDS 2020

The annual awards, organised by NetworkIrlande in collaboration with the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce, recognising excellence within the Franco-Irish business community, took place, virtually this year, on November 26th.

The Irish government was represented by Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Robert Troy T.D. who briefly addressed the 150+ French and Irish business leaders present and evoked the strong economic relationship that links our two countries while underlying the fact that France is now our nearest EU neighbour, a fact which will go towards enhancing and strengthening those ties.

The overall winner in the 'Best Irish Company in France' category was then revealed by H.E. Patricia O'Brien as KINGSPAN GLOBAL. H.E. Vincent Guerend then announced the overall winner in the 'Best French Company in Ireland' category as GROUPE ADEQUAT and finally Richard Dujardin, president of NetworkIrlande, declared CO-ASSIST the Franco-Irish business 'Rising Star' for 2020.

Congratulations to the three winners and all the shortlisted nominees out of a very high calibre of applicants again this year!

A full recording of the event along with further details of our press release can be found on our website.

Upcoming Events

This year's Christmas Reception will be quite a different affair to our usual get-together at the Embassy of Ireland but, thankfully, many of the elements that we look forward to at this event will still be present - a warm welcome from our Ambassador, H.E. Patricia O'Brien, honorary President of NetworkIrlande & our President Richard Dujardin, connection with fellow members, some 'refreshing' entertainment and lots of Christmas cheer!

This year we are going to take you on a 'curious journey of the curious mind' all the way to Drumshanbo, on the shores of Lough Allen in County Leitrim....and all from the comfort of your home!

We will be regaled with the story of PJ Rigley, founder of The Shed Distillery; and educated in the fine art of mixing the best gin & tonic by master mixologist, Cian Wrynne, direct from the Honey Badger Bar at their amazing visitor center.

To add to the experience, the first 50 members to include their postal details on registration will receive a kit containing a 5cl bottle of The Shed Distillery's renowned Gunpowder Gin along with Fever Tree Tonic, so that some may put this fine instruction directly into practice on the evening! There will also be a chance, for the most attentive among participants, to win a fabulous Gunpowder Gin Gift Box delivered to their door - full details on the 16th!

The evening will be topped off with a musical treat thanks to our friends at Tourism Ireland.

Registration is now open HERE until December 16th, however, any members wishing to receive the Gin & Tonic kit will need to provide their postal details by December 9th latest. Full connection details will be sent to all participating members closer to the date.

Many thanks to The Shed Distillery, Fever Tree Tonic and Tourism Ireland for their generous sponsorship and participation in this NetworkIrlande Christmas Reception with a difference!

EMBASSY OF IRELAND IN FRANCE

VIRTUAL TOUR DE FRANCE

The Irish Embassy in Paris is pleased to announce that Ambassador O'Brien will host a series of virtual community outreach events, in collaboration with the Honorary Consuls throughout France, starting next week. The objective of these events is to update the Franco-Irish community on topics including Brexit, travel, and community engagement.

Their first event will take place 'virtually' in Toulouse and Occitanie with Honorary Consul Kevin McGreevy next Thursday 10th December at 12pm. Register HERE to attend.

The second event will follow on Friday 11th December at 12pm, taking place in Lyon and the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region, in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, as they mark one year of their presence in Lyon.

TO BE IRISH

To Be Irish is an initiative by the Department of Foreign Affairs with support from Local Authorities, cultural institutions, broadcasters and organisations across Ireland, to create meaningful connections with the Irish diaspora around the world. Celebrating individuals, families, community organisations and businesses with Irish roots, To Be Irish aims to be a virtual hub for sharing the joy of being Irish at special moments throughout the year.

Their upcoming programme To Be Irish at Christmas will run from the 21 - 31 of December and feature a programme of events as well as some opportunities to share personal stories and interact and connect directly with other Irish people and friends of Ireland around the world.

The full festive program will be announced on December 8th so follow the initiative on Twitter or visit the website at www.tobeirish.ie to keep informed!

Welcome To Our New Members

PIONEER MEMBER

ARQANA is one of the foremost equine sales agencies in Europe created in 2006 as the result of the merger between Agence Française de Vente de Pur Sang and Goffs France, on the initiative of several investors including His Highness The Aga Khan. ARQANA's added value lies in the quality of its horse selection, its use of first class sales facilities and the guarantees it offers to buyers and vendors. ARQANA offers a total of 18 auctions annually for both the galloping and trotting disciplines. The August Yearling Sale, which offers the cream of thoroughbred breeding in Deauville, is the most prestigious sale of the year and attracts professionals and enthusiasts from all over the world.

www.arqana.com

Follow the company on Twitter and Instagram

BUSINESS MEMBER

Eurolink was founded in 1995 by the Kiely family as a solution to provide a direct link between Rungis Paris and Ireland for importers of fresh produce. They now operate an EXPRESS GROUPAGE service from Rungis to Dublin 5 + Days per week, departing Paris at 8am and arriving in Dublin 24 hours later. Eurolink can help you increase your margins by reducing travel times and enabling you to order more frequently. Eurolink also have the ability to consolidate orders from multiple suppliers – chilled, ambient and frozen.

Contact us today and find out how we can add value to your business!

www.eurolinkfoodtransport.com

eurolinkltd1@gmail.com

INDIVIDUAL MEMBER

Timothy Arnold