72 July 2013 France In Bahrain www.bahrainthismonth.com The French in Us The presence of France in Bahrain has always received a resounding welcome. It is safe to say that here are two nations that have much in common. From automobiles to the love of art and fashion and a way of life that calls for savouring each moment, a lot explains the affinity between the two countries. From our shopping malls to window panes, their influences are everywhere. This month we try to take a closer look at the island’s French connection. Strictly business Like all developed economies, France has suffered from the effects of the global recession. These blows were partly cushioned by a cautious banking and investment sector and by a tradition of state intervention in the economy. Bahrain’s robust banking fundamentals, though, has continued to offer opportunities to foreign investors. A recent review mentioned that the fundamentals remain strong and the Kingdom still offers excellent facilities for financial companies in the region. Club d’Affairs Franco Bahrainien (FCB), commissioned by the Trade Commission of the French Embassy and local businessmen, is a nexus that facilitates business between the two countries. Abdulla Juma, the FCB chairman, has participated in two Economic Development Board road shows in Paris in his efforts to promote Bahrain as a friendly business destination. France’s Technal is a strong player in the Kingdom’s aluminium and building materials segment, and further strengthening this stand is its brand Luméal. In the communications sector, France Telecom Group is represented by Lightspeed Communications. The company is the island’s first alternative fixed-line telecommunications operator. Ankita Mamgain They seem to have got it all: food, fashion, often finance and even the last word on quality ‘fromage’. Here’s a Bastille Day homage to France, whose language so many want to speak and, perhaps, we are speaking already. francesupplement Cafés in France The island’s love for a fine ride also strikes a cord with the French. Peugeot, Renault and Citroën are some of the most popular car choices in Bahrain, owing to the manufacturers’ engineering expertise and design details. One area where France undisputedly shines the brightest is fashion. This segment is indebted to certain geniuses that made an art form out of your generic clothing. Bahraini ladies take immense pride in their flamboyant fashion statement. Like any urban nook of the world, Bahrain’s malls are flooded with their brands: Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and BCBGMaxAzria. French designs have found its way into our living space as well. Their impeccable sense of design and structure translates into everything they produce; Roche Bobois’ furniture is one such example, where no matter what the inspiration, the pieces are clean and sophisticated despite an imagination running wild. Style quotient Chanel Dior Fashion
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