64 July 2014 www.bahrainthismonth.com france in bahrain Celebrating Bastille Day in Bahrain, the 1,000-strong French community can take pride in the fact that relations between the two countries have blossomed over the past three years. Last November, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the sphere of economics, culture and education by establishing a bilateral committee to follow up the implementation of approved projects and foster political dialogue in all fields, including human rights. Bilateral trade is back at the usual levels after a record one billion Euros has been reached, courtesy the Airbus delivery to Gulf Air. Traditionally active in the energy, water, banking and insurance sectors as well as hospitality industry, French companies are keenly watching developments in the aluminium, transportation, waste water treatment and domestic waste management markets in the Kingdom. Last year, Aéroports de Paris International won the tender for the final study on the new terminal at Bahrain International Airport. French companies have shown interest in supplying equipment for the proposed terminal while others hope to participate in the power generation project at Alba’s sixth line. “With its excellent quality of life and well-qualified human resources, Bahrain remains a top business destination for France. However, we would like this relationship to work both ways. We’d like Bahraini businessmen to also look at France for investment,” says Ambassador Christian Testot. The French minister for industrial development was recently in Bahrain to meet trade representatives. On this occasion, he invited a business delegation representative of both public and private sectors to France in the near future. A recent French investment in Bahrain is YMERIS, a joint venture with the Zayani Group to build and operate a plant in Bahrain. Air Liquide, in collaboration with Yateem Oxygen, has established a factory to produce carbon dioxide for soft drinks, and is primarily intended for export to the Saudi market. “We’re following developments in the transportation sector, with prominent French companies waiting to venture into Bahrain,” says the ambassador. Education push French educational expertise made its way into Bahrain with the launch of French Arabian Business School. The collaboration between ESSEC Business School of France and Arabian Gulf University offers one of the best MBA programs in the Gulf. As well, the University of Versailles has signed an agreement with the Arabian Gulf University to design the curriculum in courses on technology and medicine. The French School is in expansion mode and will accommodate around 800 students once the new infrastructure is in place. Over 6,000 children study French in public schools in Bahrain, while the number in private schools is closer to 15,000. The National School of Administration, a top institute that’s been a training ground for leading French politicians and civil servants, in partnership with the Aix-Marseille University, has linked with the Bahrain Institute for Public Administration for a Master of Public Management degree. “This master’s programme, which would become a double diploma with a local university, is intended to attract students from various Gulf countries,” the ambassador notes. Forging Meaningful Ties HE Christian Testot SIMI KAMBOJ A longstanding player on the cultural front, the recent years have seen France become a significant facilitator in the business and educational arenas in Bahrain.
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