CAFS delegation meets with CCI France International, IdVerde and ESSEC Business School, and visits Le Bourget Air Show

2023-06-22 – The delegation of the Saudi French Business Council (CAFS) took place between 19 to 21 June 2023. In addition to organising the CAFS meeting and participating in MISA’s France Saudi Investment forum on June 19, the CAFS delegation took part in several business meetings and site visits in order to discuss partnerships and benefit from the experience of several French companies.

First, on June 19, the Executive Committee of the Saudi French Business Council met with Mr. Arnaud Vaissié, President, and Mr. Charles Maridor, General Delegate, from CCI France International, at the end of the France Saudi Investment Forum organised in Paris by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia. This meeting aimed to discuss future collaboration, as well as ways to support French companies willing to invest and operate in Saudi Arabia.

The CAFS was represented by the following members of its Executive Committee:

• Dr. Mohamed Ben Laden, President of CAFS and Managing Partner of BLK Law Firm
• Eng. Faiz AlElweet, Vice-President of CAFS and Chairman of International Aramoon
• Mr. Mohammed Alamoudi, Vice-President of Saudi Bricks
• Mr. Abdullaziz Alahmadi, Co-Founder of Upskills
• Mr. Basem AlHbshi, Director of External Relations of CAFS
• Mrs. Pascale Abdallah, Interpreter
• Mr. Guillaume Rebière, Chief of Staff of CAFS

On June 20, the CAFS delegation including the following members, participated in site visits:

• Eng. Soufyan AlKabbani, Vice-President
• Eng. Faiz AlElweet, Vice-President of CAFS and Chairman of International Aramoon
• Mrs. Nouf Alghamdi, Chairwoman of Chief Outsiders Consulting Group
• Mr. Mohammed Alamoudi, Vice-President of Saudi Bricks
• Mr. Abdullaziz Alahmadi, Co-Founder of Upskills
• Mr. Abdulrahman Alsagier, CEO of Alwstah
• Mr. Salim Saassouh, Business Development Manager of Armada Holding
• Mr. Christophe Sanchez, CEO of iPartners
• Mr. Basem AlHbshi, Director of External Relations
• Mrs. Pascale Abdallah, Interpreter
• Mr. Guillaume Rebière, Chief of Staff

They first visited IdVerde, a European leader in grounds maintenance and landscape creation, which has been selected to work on several projects in Saudi Arabia, including in AlUla. Members of the CAFS were met by Mrs. Salima Saa, Executive Vice-President Business Development, for presentations of idVerde’s projects and expertise followed by a friendly networking luncheon.

Then, they visited the campus of ESSEC Business School in La Défense district, where they were welcomed by Prof. Jérôme Barthélémy, Executive Vice-President and Dean for Post-Experience Program, Mr. Christophe Grand Chavin, Executive Education, and Mrs. Baptistine Mazzetto, Corporate Programs Designer. Prof. Jérôme Barthélémy delivered a masterclass on strategy and offered copies of his latest book “Myths of strategy” to the participants. The masterclass was followed by a friendly networking coffee break.

Finally, on June 21, members of the CAFS delegation visited Le Bourget Air Show, the largest professional air show in the world, where they had meeting with representatives of GACA, SAMI, Riyadh Airports, Thales, DCI Group, Riyadh Air, and other exhibitors.

The CAFS delegation was concluded by the Saudi French Aerospace Gala Dinner, which took place on the evening of June 21 at Le Pré Catelan.