Annual Report 2012

annual report

2011 2012

CONTENTS 04 President’s Note 05 Executive Director’s Overview 06 Highlights 12 Who’s who a t the French Chamber

President & Executive Committee Council Committees

Permanent Staff

Departments’ Activities

36 Business Development 40 Committees 41 Membership 42 Events 50 Publications 52 Recruitment

16 Membership profile in 2011/2012

56 Institutional Partners

20 Committees’ Activities

60 Financial Report

Banking & Finance

Business Advisor Group China Editorial

Food & Beverage

Green Business

Human Resources Infrastracture

Luxury & Retail

Policy & Consultation SME Sourcing

Women on Board

Young Professionals & VI

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ast year has been prosperous for both Hong Kong and the Chamber. Hong Kong has sailed nicely through the global economic downturn, and has retained its position has Asia’s most popular city for international companies.

French companies, both sizable corporations and SMEs, continue to expand and set up regional offices in “Asia’s World City”.

Nicolas Borit President

The Chamber has played an active role in attracting French businesses to the city, resulting in a drastic increase of adherents. By the end of June 2012, the number of French Chamber members reached 840, representing an increase of 11% compared to last year. As the largest European Chamber in Hong Kong in terms of companies, the Chamber spares no effort to foster good relations between newcomers and Hong Kong, connecting them to the locals.

100 events, ranging from breakfasts

D

meetings to conferences, were organized to cater the members’ needs and to provide business intelligence and networking opportunities. New groups were created in finance and food & beverage industries to better reflect the members’ interests in these areas. The Chamber is thriving to stay tuned with its adherents’ wishes.

Last year, you have been part of an enthusiastic and successful chamber committed to working with you, to ensure that Hong Kong remains the perfect place to do business.

Next year’s global economic forecasts are rather pessimistic, and Hong Kong will have to continue proving its resilience and dynamism to keep its competitive edge. The Chamber will work to better inform and attend its members through these economic uncertainties.

Under the leadership of our Executive Director, Maryse Kraatz, the Chamber has experienced another year of success. I would like to extend a big thank you to her, and the Chamber’s team. Their dedication and creativity have taken our services to the next level.

ear members,

Maryse Kraatz Executive Director

I believe that at the heart of any growing business community lays a powerful chamber, reflected in Hong Kong by a new record number of members, reaching 840 last June 2012. Our membership comprised a fair representation of large companies and SMEs; a younger generation – thanks to our young professionals; more women – 1 member out of 4; a multicultural business community – with nonFrench adherents reaching 30% of our membership base. The sectors that you represent make the French chamber the perfect mirror of the Hong Kong’s economy: we are leader in infrastructure, green business, banking and finance, luxury and retail, food and beverage, trading and services.

The French Chamber has become a major actor on the local business community scene, supporting but also influencing the local authorities on changes that benefit both the French Chamber’s members and Hong Kong’s business life.

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This annual report is the perfect time to apprehend the different missions and services offered by the Chamber. I encourage you to read it but also, for the coming year, to take advantage of your membership: visit our website (fccihk.com) or web mobile (m.fccihk.com), tell our staff your needs, attend our many events and functions, network as much as you can and volunteer to serve on a committee or on the board.

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Executive Director’s Overview

President’s Note

As this is my last editorial, I wanted to thank you all for your incredible support and for the opportunity to lead a professional and experienced team that continuously had our members’ interests at heart. The passion of the Board, committee chairs, and the staff, and their commitment to the members’ interests, was impressive.

More than ever, we believe in our mission statement of connecting people, ideas and actions with an objective to insight, inform, influence and inspire.

You can take pride of the French Chamber’s past successes which will support our future by carrying us to strive for greater achievements.

Thank you for the opportunity you have given me as Director of your chamber for the past 5 years. I look forward to see you in another exciting city in Asia, Singapore.

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220 SMEs met and advised

840 members 100 EVENTS

Awarded the best Business Development Department of a French chamber abroad

55 new companies

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Highlights of 2011/2012

set up in HK

25,000 readers for HongKongEcho

Mrs. Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration & M. Nicolas Borit, President of the French Chamber

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Banking & Finance Committee received Patrick Artus, Chief Economist of Natixis

Builders Innovative Gatherings (BIG): 10 business-matching meetings

2 new working groups: Technology – Banking & Finance

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Highlights of 2011/2012

Food and Beverage

Women on Board – Cooperation with the Women’s Foundation

First Green Business speed dating

Lobby: 4 recommendations to the Hong Kong Government

HR panel on how best fuelling the talent pipe

470 members involved in 15 committees

Revamped HongKongEcho Networking cocktail with Chinese Enterprises Association at Opera Gallery

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French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Highlights of 2011/2012 800th Member Cocktail

French Chambers in Asia Annual meeting in HK

LARGER Business Centre

Luxury & Retail: Event on Social Media for luxury brands

The color of France is Burgundy

2nd edition of Made in Asia Sourcing Seminar

Newcomers Seminar

Grand Est Mission 100 individual appointments organized

250 young professionals at YP & VI cocktail

Bordeaux 3 tailored conferences

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President and Executive Committee President Nicolas Borit, DRAGAGES HONG KONG LTD Vice-presidents Jacques Boissier, CLASSIC FINE FOODS (HK) LTD Christophe Degoix, LVMH - FASHION DIVISION ASIA PACIFIC Philippe GRELON, VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES HONG KONG LTD Marie-Amelie Hoffmann, LVMH WATCH & JEWELLERY HONG KONG LTD Philippe Neveu, JORDAHL HONG KONG LTD Rebecca Silli, GIDE LOYRETTE NOUEL General Secretary Nicolas VANDERCHMITT, LPA, LEFEVRE PELLETIER & ASSOCIES Treasurer Eric LECHAUDEL, CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK Executive Members Pascal LAMBERT, SOCIETE GENERALE CORPORATE & INVESTMENT BANKING Paul Yang, BNP PARIBAS Honorary Presidents Richard Burton, COFACE HONG KONG BRANCH Paul Clerc-Renaud, FARGO GROUP Gérard Millet, SODICA ASIA LTD

List on 30 June 2012

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Council Jacques BOISSIER Nicolas BORIT Hugues BOURGEOIS Julie BOURGEOIS Olivier BURING Richard BURTON Arnaud CALLENS Paul CLERC-RENAUD Pierre COPPERE Jean-Baptiste DABADIE Christophe DEGOIX Damien DERNONCOURT Anne-Laure DESCOURS Armen EKMEKDJE Thomas FELD Philippe GRELON Guillaume Halleux Jacques HATTERER Patrick Marie HERBET Hans-Günther HERRMANN Kin-Lap HO Marie-Amélie HOFFMANN Michel JOSPE Hélène KRIEFF Pascal LAMBERT Eric LECHAUDEL Paul LEVY Eric MAYER Philippe NEVEU Thierry NEVEUX Marie-Hélène PREVOT Christine RAYNAUD Rebecca SILLI Jerome STUBERT Arnaud de SURVILLE Nicolas VANDERCHMITT Wenchi WANG Vicky WONG Christophe WYGAS Paul YANG

CLASSIC FINE FOODS (HK) LTD DRAGAGES HONG KONG LTD B2B Asia LTD NESPRESSO - DIVISION OF NESTLE HK LTD

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Who’s who at the French Chamber

COFACE HONG KONG BRANCH THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION LTD FARGO GROUP PERNOD RICARD ASIA ASIAPACK LTD PACKAGING & CO-PACKING LVMH - FASHION DIVISION ASIA PACIFIC JOHN HARDY INTERNATIONAL LTD EKKO (HK) LIMITED VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES HONG KONG LTD Air France Cargo ASIA ONE TECHNICS LTD ABACARE GROUP LTD PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON KEYSTONE INVESTMENT (HOLDINGS) LTD LVMH WATCH & JEWELLERY HONG KONG LTD METHONG PLASTICS HK LTD NEUMANN PARTNERS SOCIETE GENERALE CORPORATE & INVESTMENT BANKING CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK CLESTRA LTD THOMAS, MAYER & ASSOCIES JORDAHL HONG KONG LTD MOULIN ROTY ASIA PACIFIC GOUTEN CONSULTING LTD THE MRI CHINA GROUP GIDE LOYRETTE NOUEL NOVOTEL CENTURY HONG KONG DEXTRA PACIFIC LTD LPA, LEFEVRE PELLETIER & ASSOCIES AIR FRANCE EPC CONSULTING LTD LVMH ASIA PACIFIC LTD BNP PARIBAS

List on 30 June 2012

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Committees Banking & Finance Committee President: Pascal Lambert (SG CIB) Vice President: Fehreen Mahomed (CLSA)

Executive Director - Maryse Kraatz

Business Advisors Committee President: Philippe Grelon (Veolia Environmental Services Hong Kong Ltd)

Deputy Director, Head of Business Development - Orianne CHENAIN

China Committee President: Paul CLERC-RENAUD (FARGO GROUP) Vice Presidents: Kin-Lap HO (KEYSTONE INVESTMENT), Rebecca SILLI (GIDE LOYRETTE NOUEL) Food and Beverage Committee President: Daniel SCHNEERSOHN (Chez Patrick) Vice Presidents: Jerome STUBERT (Novotel Century Hong Kong) Green Business Committee President: Frederic GRIVEL (SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT) Vice Presidents: Charles D’HAUSSY (DILIGENT GROUP LTD) Human Resources Committee President: Bernard COULATY (PERNOD RICARD ASIA) Vice President: Vicky WONG (EPC CONSULTING) Infrastructure Committee President: Nicolas BORIT (DRAGAGES HONG KONG LIMITED) Vice President: Vincent TUNG (ALSTOM HONG KONG LTD) Luxury & Retail Committee President: Francis GOUTEN (GOUTEN CONSULTING LTD) Vice President: Elsa RAMEAU (HERMES) Policy & Consultation Committee President: Thomas Feld (Mallesons Stephen Jaques) Vice President: Rebecca SILLI (GIDE LOYRETTE NOUEL) Small and Medium Enterprises Committee President: Philippe Neveu (JORDAHL HONG KONG LIMITED) Vice President: Jean-Baptiste Dabadie (ASIAPACK LTD PACKAGING & LOGISTICS) Sourcing Committee President: Christophe DEGOIX (INTERLUX CO. LTD) Vice Presidents: Olivier BURING (HAGER ELECTRO LTD), Anthony GUINVARCH (EJ SOURCING) Women on Board President: Marie-Amélie Hoffmann (LVMH Watch and Jewellery Hong Kong Ltd) Vice President: Orianne Chenain (FRENCH CHAMBER) Young Professionals Committee President: Antoine Hauguel (PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPER) Vice President: Paul MILON (BNP PARIBas)

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Permanent Staff

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Who’s who at the French Chamber

Business Development Manager - Romain MARTIMORT Business Development Manager - Lillian Lao Trade Fairs Manager, Promosalons Delegate HK - Edith Wong Food & Beverage Manager - Laura SCHOUMAN Head of Membership - Francoise DETANGER Membership Manager - Julien HAUSS Head of Committees & Events - Catherine Pielawa-Ko Events Manager - Annie Pudlo Head of Publications - Julie Pourtois Publications Manager - Sine Choy Head of Recruitment & Training - Dolora ANGELES Recruitment Consultant - Christelle FERRARI Recruitment Consultant - Aurélie RACINE Administrative Assistant - Noreen Chow Personal Assistant & Event Executive - Vicky CHAN Administrative Assistant - Rachel Yang IT Manager - Herve Pannecoucke

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French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Membership’s Profile At the end of our 2011-2012 fiscal year, the French Chamber had 840 members, an increase of 11.3% (85 members) compared to the previous year.

The number of members has been growing constantly over the past eight years, the increase of this year being more important than ever before.

Membership Categories

Sectors of Activity

8% 13%

17%

6%

10%

5%

900

39%

3% 8%

18%

800

Sectors of Services

44%

16%

600

840

400 300 200

2005/2006

Highpoints: The multicultural nature of our member’s community attracted a wide range of business organizations from all sectors and of all sizes.

A total of 15 committees, with the newly created Food and Beverage working group, have contributed in widening our membership profile.

2006/2007

2007/2008

2008/2009

More French companies are currently establishing in Hong Kong, relocating their headquarters to Hong Kong while other French entrepreneurs set-up new business projects in the city, resulting in increasing the number of new members, especially in the entrepreneur and corporate membership categories.

2009/2010

2010/2011

16%

Trading

13%

Legal

11%

Education&Training

7%

Furnishing/Architecture/Interior Design

5%

Others

5%

Printing/Publishing/Graphic Design

5%

17%

Services

39%

Corporate

44%

Consumer Goods

16%

Entrepreneur 18%

Financial

13%

Property&Real Estate

5%

Individual

13%

Healthcare

10%

Sourcing

5%

YP

8%

Food & Beverage

8%

Industrial Goods

6%

Human Resources

5%

Technology

5%

Quality Control

2%

Transport & Tourism

3%

Translators&Interpreters

1%

0 2004/2005

Advertising/PR/Marketing/Media

Sponsor

100

2003/2004

20%

13%

700

500

Services&Consultants

2011/2012

Membership categories

Sectors of activity

Largest European Chamber in Hong Kong in terms of number of companies

The members’ sectors of activity mirror the Hong Kong economy’s leading sectors.

Our 840 members represent 604 companies in the following categories:

Predominant sectors are:

- 43 Sponsor companies

representing 144 people

- Services

- 251 Corporate companies

representing 372 people

- Consumer Goods

- 133 Entrepreneur companies

representing 147 people

- Food & Beverage

- 107 Individual members - 70 Young Professionals

- Financial

- Transport & Tourism - Industrial goods - Technology

With such a wide range of sectors and industries represented through its members, the French Chamber has both the legitimacy and the influence to support the French business community in all its needs.

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Nearly a third of the French Chamber’s members are female (29%)

29%

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Membership’s Profile

71%

Gender Male

Female

45%

A multicultural Chamber

55%

Large company VS SME Large Company

The French Chamber is proudly becoming more and more international. While more than a third of its members are non-French, more than half of its member companies are originally from Hong Kong or other countries than France.

SME 30%

70%

French speakers Speak French

Don’t speak French

From the largest companies to SMEs Large Groups and SMEs account for respectively 55% and 45% of the Chamber’s membership base, both groups obviously having very different needs in terms of services provided to them. While always keeping in mind this dual function, the Chamber constantly adapts its services, offering customized and tailor-made solutions, in order to fit the diversity of its members.

A company considered as a SME in Hong Kong is: - in the manufacturing sector, a company employing fewer than 100 people.

- in the non-manufacturing sector, a company employing fewer than 50 people.

These two types of members obviously have very different needs and we always keep in mind our dual function of serving both sides of the equation, and adapting our services to suit the entire spectrum of our membership base.

Members Nationality 500

63% French

400

Hong Kong & China

300

European

200

North America

20%

100

Other 8%

7% 2%

0

Company Nationality 250

41%

French

200 150

Hong Kong & China 28%

European

22%

North America

100

Other 50

6%

3%

0

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Banking & Finance P.21 P.22 P.23 P.24 P.25 P.26

Banking & Finance Business Advisor Group

Editorial

President & Vice-President: Pascal Lambert (SG CIB) Fehreen Mahomed (CLSA)

Food & Beverage Group Green Business Human Resources

P.28

Infrastructure

P.30

22 February 2012 ‘Dealing with the UK Bribery Act: what you need to know’, presentation by Hugh Gozzard, Principal in the Enterprise Risk Services practice, Deloitte Hong Kong

China

P.27

P.29

30 September 2011 ‘On the Brink: Exceptional Circumstances, Exceptional Policies’, presentation by Patrick Artus, Chief Economist of Natixis

Luxury & Retail

This working group became a committee in September 2011 following one year of successful activities. Being composed of the heads of all banks and financial institutions, and a few consultants/ lawyers in the field, the B&F committee has since been meeting on a regular basis (every 2 months) to tackle general topics related to the industry. It further managed to take advantage of the visit in Hong Kong of renowned speakers to organize well-attended events.

The committee launched a third subgroup, ‘Technology’, adding to the ‘Compliance’ and ‘Export Finance’ ones.

Events

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P.31

SME

P.32

Sourcing

P.33

Women on Board

P.34

Young Professionals &VI

7 July 2011 ‘Sovereign debt woes and their worldwide implications: What is ahead?’

7 February 2012 Bank liquidity update, Trade Finance – recent trend 10 May 2012 Event proposal: Korean ECA to talk about their views on changes in Export Finance market in Asia

Meetings

Technology Group

Banking & Finance

17 April 2012 Creation of new Technology group

12 July 2011 Implementation of Basel III in Hong Kong by Hong Kong Monetary Authority

24 May 2012 Cost control and solutions

30 September 2011 Banking & Finance working group became a committee

26 June 2012 Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

16 November 2011 Dodd-Frank and Volker Rule and its impact on Asia

Outlook

2 February 2012 Working meeting

Continue to organize successful activities for the Banking and Finance committee and its 3 groups: the Compliance, Export Finance and Technology ones.

7 March 2012 Evolving banking regulation with KPMG

Organisation of a first event for the ‘Export Finance’ group with a Korean ECA, Kexim.

15 May 2012 Impact of FATCA on the financial services industry in Hong Kong, by Baker & McKenzie

Pursue discussions within the Technology group about the following topics:

Compliance Officers Group

Policy & Consultation

19 October 2011 New strategy of International banks on Export Finance

21 October 2011 Working meeting

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities

• Recruitment • Allocation of resources • Solution partners and suppliers in Asia • Regulatory change

8 June 2012 Working meeting

• Personal data protection and similar rules

Export-Finance Group

• Outsourcing

• Trading platform: share experience on consulting or IT realization

6 September 2011 Cost of liquidity & pricing: international practices

Sovereign debt woes and their worldwide implications

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Business Advisor Group

China

The BAG offers

Events

Actions

Meetings

• Meetings with professional advisors

22 November 2011 Introduction to Angel Investment, event with Barry Jones, Maroon Ventures

The committee has built strong and friendly relations with local organisations such as the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC), the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprise Association, and the various official representatives of China in Hong Kong, as well as relevant Hong Kong government departments. During the past year, the China Committee also initiated collaboration with the Hong Kong China Chamber of Commerce I/O the Hong Kong China Enterprise Association, and supported their main event, the China Overseas Investment Summit.

5 September 2011 New social security law in China and its implications for foreigners with Vivian Desmonts, DS Avocats

• Free advice • Guaranteed confidentiality

President: Philippe Grelon (Veolia Environmental Services Hong Kong Ltd)

• Constructive criticism

Meetings

• When possible, business matching with relevant parties

6 meetings took place between August 2011 and June 2012, as 5 candidates were met.

• Advisors’ commitment to meet budding entrepreneurs for one hour • Advisors’ decisions regarding follow-up received within one month • A one-year coaching period by two advisors may be proposed to some entrepreneurs

Outlook The group looks forward to meeting entrepreneurs with exciting projects, while entrepreneurs hope on their side that the BAG’s advices and network can help them developing their business ideas successfully.

President & Vice-Presidents: Paul Clerc-Renaud (Fargo Group) Kin-Lap Ho (Keystone Investment (Holdings) Limited) Rebecca Silli (Gide Loyrette Nouel)

Actions The Business Advisors Group (BAG) aims at offering strategic advices to entrepreneurs and start-up companies for them to succeed in their new business developments, while offering them networking opportunities.

Advisors are experienced, as they all come from different backgrounds, enabling them to cover and assist a wide range of activities.

The BAG is a flexible body that meets promising entrepreneurs from any field of industry upon request • Average of eight advisors (out of 10) present at each meeting • Deep involvement from all advisors

The China Committee acts as a platform where to exchange valuable information about the Chinese business environment such as best practices, trends and past experiences. Local and foreign guest speakers are invited to present practical advices or research findings on issues and events relevant to doing business in China.

The coming year will give the opportunity to address and discuss about the rapidly changing situation in China, while keeping an eye on the political changes that will soon be implemented.

Events 25 August 2011 Farewell drink for Jean-Francois Huchet, CEFC

New energies and global warming

7 November 2011 PRC Tax Update with George Lam, Ernst & Young 9 January 2012 Competition law Monopoly law in China: Update and Best Practice/ Recommendations with Rebecca Silli, Gide Loyrette Nouel 5 March 2012 The Taiwan elections and their consequences & Update on the political situation in China with Professor Jean-Pierre Cabestan, Hong Kong Baptist University 7 May 2012 Current payment situation of China, Hong Kong & Taiwan with Xavier Farcot, Executive VP, Information & Claims, Asia Pacific, Coface Hong Kong Branch

1 November 2011 New energies and Global warming with Professor Jean Salençon

Outlook

8 December 2011 Can China save the world? Challenges & risks of the Chinese economy with Dr Jinliang Li

• The political transition and the agenda of the new standing committee for the next 5 years

16 April 2012 What new drivers for the Chinese Economy? The end of the ChongQing Model? with Dr Jacques Gravereau 13 June 2012 Networking cocktail with the Chinese Enterprises Association

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities

The main themes to be addressed:

• The “go global” policy and Chinese O.D.I. • Migrant workers and social concerns in China • Internationalisation of Chinese brands • Intellectual Property and the web • Precaution necessary in dealing with state secrets when doing business in China • Luncheon with the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce

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Editorial

Food and Beverage

President & Vice-President: Christine Brendle (Dow Jones) Paul Clerc-Renaud (Fargo Group)

The committee is the brain behind HongKongEcho’s contents. Members of this closed committee meet four times a year to brainstorm on the magazine’s subjects and potential contributors.

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President & Vice-President: Daniel Schneersohn (Chez Patrick) Jerome Stubert (Novotel Century Hong Kong) HKE 64 - Wine and the City

HKE 65 - Feeling & Looking Good in HK

Actions

Past issues of 2011-2012

HongKongEcho provides high-quality and focused editorial coverage regarding the Hong Kong business community. The publication is written by experts drawn from the Chamber’s membership as well as from the international business community in Hong Kong. Published in full colour, each 64-page issue focuses on a specific theme and also provides information on French Chamber news and events. The editorial committee was involved in the magazine’s revamping, helping the publications department giving a face-lift to HongKongEcho’s sections and general look.

Women on Board – Autumn 2011 Gastronomy & the City – Winter 2011 Wine and the City – Spring 2012 Feeling & Looking Good in Hong Kong – Summer 2012

Outlook During the September meeting, the committee will discuss and choose the next 4 magazine’s themes.

The Food & Beverage working group focuses on restaurants, retail and distribution of grocery, food and wine products, while acting as a platform for the main actors of the industry to exchange ideas, advices and information about best practices, issues and trends regarding operation, marketing, rules and regulations related to their business. The group aims at creating synergies between members in order to develop and enhance our F&B activities in Hong Kong with a French touch, while lobbying towards the government and other bodies is facilitates through the Chamber’s platform.

Actions

Meetings

The group will remain a working group for another year, becoming a Committee afterwards. The idea of creating different groups representing different centers of interest within the committee such as Wine, Food, and more will be studied, depending on the involvement of each of the committee’s actors.

16 May 2012 Brainstorming session

Meetings of the committee will take place every months and each member commits to attend 75% of the meetings throughout the year.

‘News sharing’: at the beginning of each meeting, members of the committee will share information and news regarding their business. A dashboard will also be shared among members on a monthly basis, summarizing key information about current Hong Kong trends being of interest to members such as revenue growth, cost of various products and services from transportation to products and commodities, visitors traffic in Hong Kong, inflation/unemployment …).

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities

21 June 2012 Brainstorming session Outlook This group will be closed, restricting its access to only members from the industry.

Chamber’s members interested to participate can contact the Chamber and might be included or put on a waiting list.

The group will also organize meetings or events that will be open to all F&B professional members of the Chamber or to all members.

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Green Business Collaboration with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) • A courtesy meeting was organized between the Committee and the EPD to introduce its leaders while giving a general overview of its activities. The main goal of the meeting was to discuss both sides’ visions and expectations, as well as to explore areas of common interests that could result in further cooperation between the two.

President & Vice-President: Frederic Grivel (Suez Environnement) Charles d’Haussy (Diligent Group Ltd.)

• The EPD has shown its interest on technologies.

Events and Committee meetings 21 September 2011 Working meeting

Formerly named “Sustainable Development Committee”, the Committee changed its name to “Green Business Committee” to better reflect its mission. It focuses on promoting the French Green expertise to the local stakeholders and Hong Kong government’s Environmental Development Committee, through links that were previously initiated.

Actions The Committee has initiated close business relations with the Environmental Development thanks to a first introduction meeting in December. A presentation was then given by officers from the Environmental Protection Department Waste Reduction, and a visit was further organized by the Committee to EcoPark.

These links will further be reinforced, while business collaboration with other Chambers and organisations in Hong Kong will continue.

The Committee has also answered two consultations from the Hong Kong government, which will allow it to increase its visibility on the Hong Kong scene.

Moreover, a Green Watch newsletter has been implemented, being sent to all Green Business committee members on a monthly basis.

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Human Resources Lobbying actions

Actions

Outlook

Recommendations for the consultation: ‘Reduce, Recycle and Proper Waste Management’ sent on 19 March.

The French Chamber Human Resources Committee has changed its knowledgesharing format of operation model, now aiming at sharing and enhancing the best practices in Human Resources management in Asia through a “Club mindset”.

• Recruitment, talent retention, training, motivation

Events

• The contract and the notion of fairness: will be addressed during the September committee meeting

Recommendations for the consultation: ‘Strengthening Waste Reduction: Is Waste Charging an Option?’ sent on 10 April.

Representation: The Green Business committee attended on 26 March the panel at the Legislative Council on “Reduce, Recycle and Proper Waste Management”.

Outlook

10 November 2011 Working meeting

The general idea leading the committee’s actions is: ‘Changing/Transforming Hong Kong bit by bit’. Therefore, the committee will:

10 January 2011 Working meeting

• Meet green organizations/think-tanks in Hong Kong to initiate collaboration

17 January 2012 Green Business networking speeddating

• Organize seminars on topics such as air pollution, urban planning, energy efficiency, Hong Kong harbour, water and sewage, as well as a visit to Science Park in Sha Tin.

23 February 2012 Hong Kong Trade Development Council: Shopping for green products on the Mainland with Alice Tsang, Economist, HKTDC 23 May 2012 Recycling in Hong Kong : from the garbage bins to the recycling facilities with Dr Lawrence Wong, PEPO (Waste Reduction & EcoPark) and Steven Wong, SEPO (Waste Reduction & EcoPark) 5 June 2012 Working meeting 20 June 2012 Visit to EcoPark, organized the Waste Reduction department of the EPD

• Organize another Green speed dating, making it a yearly rendezvous, while involving additional international chambers • Organize a one-day (or half-day) conference on energy efficiency • Create a Green Business committee forum where members will be able to post their interests, questions, topics, expertise information and more, where a ‘push notification’ system will allow the information to be sent to all members when posted.

President & Vice-President: Bernard Coulaty (Pernod Ricard Asia) Vicky Wong (EPC Consulting)

20 March 2012 “Leadership in Asia: Fuelling the Talent Pipe”: A panel of 5 Human Resources speakers shared their views on how to develop leaders who will then empower companies’ teams.

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities

• Expatriates and how to deal with them • Diversity and inclusion (global talent, diversity and nationality, integration): will be addressed by an event on November 6th

Meetings The Committee aims at gathering Human Resources leaders, post-graduate business education partners, managing consultants and actors of the younger generation to exchange on best practices in the industry.

The core group of the committee, Human Resources leaders from the Chamber’s member companies, meet on a regular basis to organize events and activities addressing the larger HR Management community in Hong Kong and Asia.

16 September 2011 Working meeting 21 October 2011 Working meeting

Leadership in Asia

16 December 2011 Special Topic on ‘Keeping Employees Engaged’ with videos on how best captured the moments of fun and excitement at work and at leisure to keep employees engaged.

17 February 2012 Special Topic on ‘HR as an agile manager of the business paradoxes’ The HR function has to constantly adjust its agenda to cope with the changing business environment and satisfy diverse and changing business requirements.

6 June 2012 Working meeting

28 June 2012 Working meeting

EcoPark

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French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities Luxury & Retail

Infrastructure Actions The group will remain a working group The Infrastructure Committee has maintained close relations with the government, welcoming one officer from the Development Bureau within a committee meeting, and sending recommendations for the consultation on ‘Hong Kong Land Supply Strategy’.

President & Vice-President: Nicolas Borit (Dragages Hong Kong Ltd) Vincent Tung (Alstom Hong Kong Ltd)

The Infrastructure Committee acts as a forum for companies involved, at all stages, in the development of infrastructures in Hong Kong, Macao and China. Members are typically contractors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers and service providers. The objectives of the Infrastructure Committee are to: • Encourage participants to exchange information about projects, statutory regulations, government policies and market trends, • Organize meetings at high level with government official, developers, operators to obtain first-hand information and promote the image of French expertise, • Provide a neutral front to suggest ideas about inadequate government policies, terms and conditions, specifications, • Meet with counterparts in other chambers, • Organize site visits.

Meetings

9 January 2012 Committee meeting

18 January 2012 BIG presentation

24 February 2012 Committee meeting – “Reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and the rock cavern development”

14 October 2011 BIG presentation 19 October 2011 BIG presentation

10 January 2012 Event: What is unique about the Chinese Luxury market and makes it immune to recession with Serge Hoffmann, Bain & Company

17 January 2012 BIG presentation

21 June 2012 Brainstorming session

23 September 2011 Committee meeting

12 December 2011 Luxury group working meeting

16 January 2012 BIG presentation

30 January 2012 BIG presentation

16 September 2011 BIG presentation

The Committee organised the following meetings and events:

11 January 2012 BIG presentation

16 May 2012 Brainstorming session

The Committee continued to organize regular meetings with general brainstorming on members’ activities which is always very appreciated, and carried out one successful project, the Builders Innovative Gatherings (BIG) that gives the chance to members of the Committee to present their field of expertise to key consultants/architects.

7 members had already the chance to showcase their products, as 10 meetings were organized. Moreover, 3 members have recently joined the group.

Events

President & Vice-President: Francis Gouten (Gouten Consulting Limited) Elsa Rameau (Hermes Asia Pacific Limited)

9 May 2012 Committee meeting 14 June 2012 Committee meeting Outlook The Infrastructure Committee will continue to organize business matching meetings for members of the BIG group and will launch a new project for the 2012-13 session.

It will also maintain close and regular relations with the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong government.

At the end of the year 2011, the Luxury and Retail Committee was given a new leadership, while the Luxury group, its main driver, was also reshuffled.

Members of the Luxury and Retail committee, working in the luxury and retail fields, exchange about trends and practices of the industry, gaining valuable input and up-to-date information from the industry’s insiders. The Committee also successfully launched a new gathering format, where larger brands sat face to face with smaller brands in order to exchange about their respective problematics, and foster networking opportunities between both.

17 January 2012 Committee meeting with presentation: Luxury in China with Alain Le Couedic, Roland Berger.

Can Social Media be tailored for luxury brands?

24 April 2012 Event: Can Social Media be tailored for luxury brands? with Thomas Crampton, Ogilvy 17 May 2012 Committee meeting: Experience sharing session between junior and larger brands 11 June 2012 Luxury group working meeting

Outlook The committee will continue to organize successful experience sharing meetings, where the focus will be put on specific topics and trends regarding the industry.

An event treating about retail in China has already been organized for October 2012.

20 October 2011 BIG presentation 3 November 2011 Committee meeting 11 November 2011 BIG presentation 21 November 2011 BIG presentation 8 December 2011 Committee meeting

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Policy & Consultation

Small and Medium Enterprises

The committee’s objectives are to:

• Lantau Island beckons: a new development phase for Hong Kong’s largest island

The SME Support Centre

• Harbour Protection and development • From Clean to Green: Environment Strategy in Hong Kong

• Provide a catalogue listing all financial help schemes and programs offered by both the Hong Kong and French governments towards Hong Kong based SMEs

• Major infrastructure projects in need of consequential work force

• Meet with successful entrepreneurs to gain direct and practical advices

• ascertain the French Chamber’s strategy when it comes to taking an official position on political and economic issues that are susceptible of affecting members; • help other committees of the French Chamber with their specific concerns and lobbying needs; President & Vice-President: Thomas Feld (King & Wood Mallesons) Rebecca Silli (Gide Loyrette Nouel)

• write “budget recommendations” and “general policy papers” once a year; • participate in Hong Kong Government consultations on behalf of the Chamber where such consultations directly affect the activities of the Chambers’ members.

Recent Actions (2011-2012) The Policy & Consultation committee acts as the French Chamber’s think tank, helping the Chamber to formulate its strategies and voice its views in relation to Hong Kong’s current government policies and initiatives, to the extent that they affect or have an impact on the Chamber’s members. Guests are occasionally invited to participate in the committee’s meetings in order to share their experience and provide specialised advice on some of these issues that are of particular concern to the Chamber’s members.

French Chamber’s recommendations prior to Hong Kong’s Budget Announcement for 2012-2013 Three main topics were covered: • Suggestions for combatting threats to Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s World City • Proposal for preserving Hong Kong’s Competitive Edge through Planning and Education • Environmental Initiatives in Hong Kong

The above recommendations were delivered to the Financial Secretary, John Tsang, on January, 17th, 2012.

French Chamber’s recommendations for the Policy Address 2012-2013

These recommendations were delivered to the incumbent Chief Executive of HKSAR, C Y Leung, on 27 June 2012

Helping other Committees with their recommendations to specific consultations

Green Business Committee: ‘Reduce, Recycle and Proper Waste Management’ and ‘Strengthening Waste Reduction: Is Waste Charging an Option?’

Recent Meetings 14 November 2011 Brainstorming on recommendations for the budget 2011-2012 17 May 2012 Brainstorming meeting on recommendations for the Policy Address

Outlook for 2012-2013 The Policy & Consultation Committee will: • continue to interact closely with the Chamber’s other Committees to understand and help formulate the concerns and projects of its members;

• Maintaining Hong Kong’s Edge

• Seek to reinforce its dialogue with Hong Kong authorities on the major issues that affect or may impact on the Chamber’s members and the French community in Hong Kong;

• Facilitating business and promoting innovation • Transforming Hong Kong for the Next Generation

President & Vice-President: Philippe Neveu (Jordahl Hong Kong Ltd) Jean-Baptiste Dabadie (Asiapack Ltd Packaging & Logistics)

Infrastructure Committee: ‘Hong Kong Land Supply Strategy’

The following recommendations were structured around 2 main orientations, each of them covering different suggestions:

• Attracting and Nurturing Talent: Education in Hong Kong

The centre has two main objectives

• Strive to always listen to the Chambers’ members and maintain and enhance the Chamber’s profile in Hong Kong.

The Small & Medium Enterprises Committee is the platform where SMEs meet and network. Seminars and experience sharing sessions are organized by the Committee, specifically targeted to members’ needs in order to benefit entrepreneurs.

Actions

Travailler Ensemble 2nd edition The second edition of Travailler Ensemble (‘Working Together’) took place on March 27th, enabling French SMEs and large French corporations to meet through business matching. The event was once again a great success, confirming the collaboration and solidarity that exist within the French business community in Hong Kong.

• 50 attending companies (+ 20 % compared to the 2010’s edition) • 80 participants • 170 individual appointments organised before the D-day (+25 %) • 60 additional meetings arranged during the afternoon (+ 20 %)

Monthly SME luncheons & Entrepreneurial stories The committee continued to focus on “entrepreneurial” experience-sharing through the monthly SME Lunch. The interest in these practical and informative sessions about specific business topics remained high, with an average attendance of 20 participants each time.

The committee also launched a new meeting series, The Entrepreneurial Stories, during which entrepreneurs present their companies, experiences, challenges, successes, failures to other entrepreneurs.

14 September 2011 Back to Work - The French Chamber’s First Fall SME Lunch 12 October 2011 Relations with Chinese factories 9 November 2011 How insurance works to help business owners thoroughly protect their balance sheet 14 December 2011 The Entrepreneurial Stories Gerard Belicha, Red Packet 11 January 2012 How to Value one’s SME

9 May 2012 The Trade Financing of SMEs

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities

13 June 2012 Foreign Pensions for French People and their assets Events 21 February 2012 Building an SME Finance Function with Barry Jones, Principal Maroon Ventures

Meetings 4 November 2011 Working meeting 19 November 2011 Working meeting for Travailler Ensemble 14 May 2012 Helps implemented by the Hong Kong government towards the SMEs with Charles Ng, Invest HK

Outlook The SME Committee will organise the fourth edition of its SME Award.

Created in 2008, this event highlights the dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit of outstanding French-owned SMEs in Hong Kong. SMEs with very different profiles and coming from various industries are assessed by a panel of 13 professionals, while the best candidate wins the Award.

While 90% of registered companies in Hong Kong are SMEs, the committee will also continue to focus on providing help to the French Chamber’s member companies of this size.

8 February 2012 Online marketing for SME’s and Mobile Marketing for SMEs 12 March 2012 Marketing / Communication for SMEs 18 April 2012 The entrepreneurial stories – Jean-Yves Chatté, Monsieur Chatté

Travailler Ensemble

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Sourcing Actions

President & Vice-Presidents: Christophe Degoix (Interlux) Olivier Buring (Hager Electro Ltd) Antony Guinvarch (EJ Sourcing)

The committee remained very active again this year, having organized 14 meetings and events within 10 months. 21 members have participated in the committee in 2012, exceeding the fixed target of 20 members. The success of the committee is due to the participative mind-set (70% rule) and involvement of its members.

Committee meetings are organized around three axes which are the exchange of news between committee members, presentation on core topic, and updates on coming events/themes.

Moreover, the second edition of the Made in Asia, Future trends and models symposium was a great success, and will most likely become a yearly meeting within the sourcing industry.

‘Women On Board’ 23 March 2012 How to improve productivity in Chinese factories with Vincent Chung, Hong Kong Productivity Council 20 April 2012 Human resources, discussion between members 18 May 2012 How do suppliers see the situation today in China, how do they see how to come out scarcity of resources, increase of costs, and how do they see the coming years with Emil Yu, Chairman of China committee, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

President: Marie-Amelie Hoffmann (LVMH Watch & Jewellery Hong Kong Ltd)

• Create a discussion platform where to share information and experiences relevant to sourcing across all industries; • Organize events about topical issues, where experts are identified and invited to share about the according issues.

• Tackle the future of the sourcing industry in the current highly changing and uncertain environment.

16 September 2011 Back to work meeting with welcoming of new members

8 June 2012 evening Year end drink!

HKG and South China market update with Guillaume Halleux, Air France Cargo 14 October 2011 Guangdong versus Hong Kong for sourcing offices: Hong Kong or the Guangdong, which one is best?

Discussion between members 11 November 2011 How to source new products? with Olivier Levy, Dragon Sourcing 9 December 2011 Quality control: internal? external? on platform? in factory? with Sandra Ormiston Pointech Industrial Ltd

Sourcing in Asia, future trends and models

6 January 2012 Christmas dinner open to committee members and their spouses, at the Gingko in Central 16 January 2012 RMB Cross Border Trade Settlement: Update and Opportunities with Bruno Francois, BNP Paribas 24 February 2012 Engaging our vendors - Sharing and discussing best practices with Valery Cussenot, Kingfisher

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Events 3-4 May 2012 One large seminar: Sourcing in Asia, future trends and models

- Organised by a sub-group of the committee (9 members) - 1,5 - day seminar, at the Harbour Grand Hong Kong - 200 participants, 27 prominent speakers -11 working meetings for preparation 4 June 2012 Visit of the air freight terminal, organised by Guillaume Halleux, Air France Cargo

Outlook The 3rd edition of Made In Asia is planned for March 2013, and its organization will begin during September.

The sourcing industry being an everchanging and very exciting business, it is expected to encourage further discussion and development in order to foster sharing and collaboration through the committee for the coming year.

Events

The Women on Board committee experienced a very exciting year through its regular monthly meetings, its organisation of successful events, and by carrying out of the Women’s Talent Pool (WTP) project, while also continuing to establish strong ties with other women’s organizations.

11 October 2011 Brainstorming session

Hong Kong Echo Collaboration to Hong Kong Echo, special Women – September 2011

12 January 2012 Brainstorming session

The WOB committee’s aim is to help leading businesswomen to excel; by giving them the brand value and confidence they need to propel their careers further. The Committee’s intention is to give sound advices on how to work on themselves in order to break the barriers that they have themselves built, develop their capacity to progress and improve the way they network.

Having successfully built strong between its members, the group decided to broaden its activities launching a successful project, Women’s Talent Pool (WTP).

ties has by the

22 November 2011 Career management: the DOs and DON’Ts, and Head hunters and how to optimize relations with them with Roula Rozakeas, Korn Ferry International.

19 June 2012 Brainstorming session

Meetings 27 September 2011 Networking cocktail at Opera Gallery, within the Botero exhibition

8 June 2012 Wrap-up meeting

Meetings The objectives of this committee are to

Actions

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities

17 December 2011 All on Social Networking and you, networking cocktail with the Women of Influence with Claire Fenner, Heels and Deals.

March 2012 Collaboration to the ‘Women on Board Executive Forum’ 26 April 2012 Women in the workplace, what matters with Christine Raynaud, the MRI group

Outlook Women’s Talent Pool The role of the Women’s Talent Pool is to provide a platform to help talented women to identify possible short-term working opportunities in SMEs – or larger companies – looking for skilled professionals. The Committee will continue this action, putting in relation women with companies.

Mentoring project with the Women’s foundation The WOB committee will help provide both mentors and mentees.

18 May 2012 Cooperation with the Women’s Foundation ‘The gender gap in pay’ 28 May 2012 Leadership and Women and nonexecutive board members with Dominique Heriard-Dubreuil, Remy Cointreau 26 June 2012 Cooperation with the Women’s Foundation ‘How to negotiate and increase your salary: tips and practical solutions for women’

Networking cocktail at Opera Gallery

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Actions

Outlook

• Integrate & meet new YP & VI

• Create a pool of young professionals “business-matter” experts through the organisation of the monthly round tables

• Connect & network within the Hong Kong business community • Share experience in Hong Kong • Develop the community via events

Events President and Vice-President: Antoine Hauguel (PWC) Paul Milon (BNP Paribas)

Cocktails 29 September 2011 YP and VI cocktail at Wine Bar 19 January 2012 Welcoming drink

• Try to find possible outputs to the various roundtables • Develop better interaction with other committees for the co-organization of events, to source more senior professionals to support the roundtables’ initiative • Recruit more active young professionals and find the right mix between VI and non-VI young professionals

French Chamber’s Departments

P.36

Business Development Department

P.40

Committees Department

P.41

Membership Department

P.42

Events Department

P.50

Publications Department

P.52

Recruitment Department

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Young Professionals & VI

French Chamber 2009-2010 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Committees’ Activities

22 March 2012 Welcoming drink

The Young Professionals & VI Committee aims at providing information through seminars to any member of the French Chamber willing to learn more about Hong Kong and China’s local business environments and cultural scenes.

The Young Professionals & VI Committee has also implemented a new workshop concept, where participants share their experience on different topics and trends, while continuing to organise very successful networking cocktails.

Roundtables 19 October 2011 Generation Y, strengths and issues with Bernard Coulaty, Pernod Ricard 7 February 2012 Project management with Vincent Avrillon, Dragages 13 March 2012 What does Generation Y want? with Christine Raynaud, The MRI group 24 April 2012 The value of events, now and tomorrow with Beatrice Remy, Luminous 17 May 2012 Creating, growing and taking over businesses in Greater China with Frederic Guiral, Aigle and Frank Cancelloni, Devanlay 5 July 2012 Managing Asian Teams with Marie-Amelie Hoffmann, LVMH Watches & Jewelry

YP Cocktail

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Business Development Department

T

• Knowledge of the market • A real one stop shop solution for a SME arriving in Hong Kong • Tailor- made offer to serve the needs and budgets of French SMEs starting in Hong Kong.

prospect

INFORM

• Sourcing missions to help clients lower their costs by finding the right suppliers.

he department has achieved the following milestones in 2011-2012

• 43 export and sourcing missions for French brands and French SMEs (+43%) • 5 collective missions • 57 new companies assisted in their setting up in HK (+39% ) • 50 working visas processed and obtained (+43%) Orianne Chenain Deputy General Manager and Head of the Department

• 10 well-known French Fairs promoted

3 key words to summarize the activity of the department in 2011/2012 • Growth • Increased sectorial specialisation • Synergy with the Chamber’s other departments Our mission is to support French businesses’ development by facilitating their access to the Hong Kong market.

The four goals of the department’s activities are:

Lillian Lao Business Development Manager (especially in charge of our additional services and mission)

INFORM PROSPECT SET UP COMMUNICATION

The department’s strengths: • A multicultural team • A business-minded team • Efficient and reliable

Romain Martimort Business Development Manager (company set-up, domiciliation, missions)

• More than 25 years of experience in Hong Kong • Independent & private • A large business network

• Export missions that include market studies and business matching meetings with relevant partners,

What we do • Assess the market potential: providing assistance in understanding and approaching the market, knowing the key industry players and competitors to increase brand awareness

Highlights Edith Wong Trade Fair Manager and Business Development Manager (including visa service)

• Helping companies and entrepreneurs on understanding how they can expand in Hong Kong and succeed by providing market intelligence, by sending newsletters or by doing credit researches to check the notoriety of potential partners.

• Market study done for each export mission in several sectors such as children fashion, affordable luxury fashion for men and women, or F&B (beers, pastries, wines) • 2 consulting missions : - analysing the home furnishing market in Hong Kong and its potential for French brands - comparative analysis in setting up a factory in South China (together with the French chamber in China) • Two business schools (HEC and ISG) welcome days: presentation of Hong Kong and opportunities for French products • 9 “journées pays (JP)” in Normandy, Troyes, Reims, Strasbourg, Metz, Besancon, Paris, Avignon and Montpellier to present Hong Kong to local chambers of commerce : more than 100 individual meetings with SMEs

• Increase in number of missions with 43 export and sourcing missions

• Creation of a graphic charts for the promotion of each event, • Creation of a slogan (“The colour of France is Burgundy”; “Bordeaux creator of Excellence”), • Press relations, • Going further than promote only wines by promoting the region’s gastronomy, culture and industries.

set up

• A vast majority of export missions (96%) in F&B, home furnishing, and fashion/accessories • News areas developed in cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, home decoration, and brand awareness • Breakdown by sectors • F&B : 44% (50% beverage ; 50% food) • Home furnishing/design/architects : 19%

Highlights

• 220 meetings in Hong Kong with SMEs; of which 20% have been introduced to professional partners and members of the French chamber.

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What we do

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Business Development Department

• Fashion (men; women, children ; accessories, jewellery) : 11.5% • Cosmetics/medical products: 9.5% Laura Schouman F&B Manager (in charge of all missions in the F&B area)

• Industrial products : 7% • Web/media : 3% • Freight : 3% • Consulting : 3% • 70% found their commercial partner through these missions • Organization of 2 collective missions : Nord-Pas-De-Calais (Home decoration) and Mission Grand Est (14 companies, 9 in the F&B sector, 1 in cosmetics, 2 in home accessories, 1 in logistics, 1 industrial)

What we do • A one-stop shop offering comprehensive, tailor-made and all inclusive assistance services for setting-up companies, • Virtual office service on a calendar year basis,

• Regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Sud de France

• Start-up Assistance Service: office finding, in our own business centre or other location; referral to logistics companies, law firms, accounting firms, etc.

• Accomplishments

• Working visa service

• Organization of 3 missions to promote French regions

• Full scale event organisation, including finding speakers, and content development. Two Wine tasting events organized (500 people/100 people), 5 conferences, a gala dinner with 200 guests,

• Additional services: room rental, video conference, translation, and interpretation

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• Our translation service provides The Québec Immigration Office (BIQ) in Hong Kong with translation and interpretive services. The BIQ is responsible for selecting eligible individuals in Asia interested in immigrating to Quebec. Our team of professional interpreters is highly proficient in English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, and other Asian Languages such as Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Bengali, Hindi, Sinhala, etc.

Highlights • More than 250 setting up companies have been assisted since the start of the service offer.

• 57 companies have been assisted in their set up during the 2011-2012 fiscal year, a 39% increase from last year

Profile:

Business Development Department communicate What we do: • Promoting well-known French Fairs in Hong Kong to increase their attendance • Promoting and “Selling” Hong Kong through various tools : our quarterly newsletter in French • Working closely with the network of French Chambers in Asia.

Highlights

Promosalons: • Maison&Objet (interior design and deluxe home fashion) : +23% for the September edition • SIAL CHINA (F&B) : +32% (Hong Kong ranks first as the country sending the most visitors to the fair) • SILMO (Optical): +8%

• More than 110 companies are domiciled at the Chamber

• Cartes in Asia (march 2012) : visitors from Hong Kong +6%

• Increase of the interpretation work done for Quebec: over 2300 interview cases organized with the Québec Immigration Office (+19%)

• Europain : +100%

• 50 working visas/training/dependent processed and obtained

• Pollutec

• Business centre: Since the launch of this service, all private offices have been rented out. 2 new business centres opened in 2011/2012, with the support of ACFCI : - one with three offices, an open stage and a meeting room ; all have been rented out since the opening, - one with 5 offices (each for two people) and 4 open spaces for VIE; all have been rented out since the opening, - There are now 6 working sessions that are used by the VIE candidates sponsored by the French Chamber.

New fairs promoted: • Bijorhca – Eclat de mode

• Equip’Hotel

Vinexpo: The French chamber assisted the Vinexpo Fair, by acting as its local office since October 2011, serving as its hotline, answering all enquiries from visitors as well as exhibitors, which were done by having one of its staffs working full time for the event between April and May. Communication with France: Communication is made regularly with our French network through the circulation of the France-Hong Kong Express newsletter. It is sent to the Chambers of Commerce in France’s network, to companies registered at the French chamber and to all SMEs met by the BDD, serving as link between the Hong Kong market and those who are not based in the city.

strengthening our relationships with our local partners in Hong Kong and their representatives in France: Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Invest HK. We further worked regularly with other French Chambers in Asia, especially the French Chamber in China, by exchanging information, promoting their services, and doing cross-selling. In order to increase coordination within the chambers in Asia, the French Chamber in Hong Kong has taken the leading coordination role and has organized a meeting in March reuniting all the French Chambers of Asia in Hong Kong. During the meeting, the Chambers Have shared a lot, deciding on the following actions: • Each large chamber will mentor and share with a smaller chamber ; as an example, Hong Kong is working with the French chamber in Cambodia • Councillors of each chamber are considered VIP in the other country where other French chambers are • “Sectorial packs” will be further developed: a company working with one chamber which is coordinating its development in Asia and help it to finalize its strategy. Few missions done: for a wine producer or a French TV channel for instance • Both French chambers in China and Hong Kong have decided to work more closely together, each taking the lead on different areas of activity.

Outlook • To strengthen our position as a unique entity in Hong Kong for French SMEs to be offered global and professional solutions

• To better communicate the knowhow of the department

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Business Development Department

• To stabilize the portfolio of Fairs we promote by strengthening their brand awareness and attendance ; to develop our network of fairs in Asia (DNA in Shanghai, MIPIM) • To enhance French chamber’s network in Asia, increasing the coordination and quality of services provided to French SMEs wishing to set-up or increase their presence in different countries of Asia • To consolidate interaction and synergy within the French chamber • The BDD : a more efficient door for new members • The BDD : serving more and more our members • The BDD : a good way to introduce French companies to our members.

Our team - Orianne Chenain, Deputy General Manager and Head of the Department - Edith Wong, Trade fair Manager and Business Development Manager (including visa service) - Lillian Lao, Business Development Manager (especially in charge of our additional services and mission) - Romain Martimort, Business Development Manager (company setup, - Laura Schouman, F&B Manager (incharge of all missions in the F&B area).

• To strengthen our organisation by sectors and skills

Relations with local players Throughout the year, we strived at

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Membership Department

T

A

he Chamber committees and working groups give the opportunity to members having similar business interests or working within the same industry to share information and develop common actions to their benefit.

Regarding the development of committees:

Being a Committee member is a unique opportunity to get first-hand business information through the sharing of professional experiences and industry updates.

• The New Tech Committee whose activities were suspended pending a new direction matching the needs of our members, was successfully re-launched as a group within the Banking & Finance Committee, the Technology group,

The Committees Department is in charge of finding and recommending speakers or discussion topics to each committee, while attending events or meetings organized by other parties in Hong Kong, establishing close relations with them in order to stay informed on their industries trends and activities.

Achievements

Ammesa Chan Committees Assistant

Through the increase in the number of committees and working groups, the department organised nearly 100 committee and working group meetings this year, based on experience sharing between members, invitation of speakers to tackle hot topics, and brainstorming sessions on the organization of key events.

The department supported the committees in organizing 40 events.

Among them: • Travailler Ensemble (Working Together): an afternoon of business matching between SMEs and large French groups, • Sourcing in Asia, What Alternatives to China: a one and a half-day sourcing symposium with keynote industry speakers that gathered 200 participants for its second edition.

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cting as a global relationship manager, the Membership Department aims at developing close contact with each of its members to better know their specific activities and industries, in order to consequently refer ones with others having compatible interests, fostering positive business relationships within the Chamber’s community.

• The Banking & Finance working group became a formal Committee one year after its creation,

• The Human Resources committee has been refurbished with a stronger emphasis on Human Resources activities and gathers mostly members with regional responsibilities,

Francoise Detanger Head of Membership

• Finally, the long-awaited Food and Beverage working group was created with members from the 3 main sectors: restaurants, retail and wine.

Delivering added value to its business community, the department also regularly provides exclusive privileges to its members, such as VIP invitations to special events, seminars, special offers and more.

Objectives Besides supporting committee members on a daily basis, the department will: • Organize the third annual Made in Asia Symposium with the Sourcing Committee, • Transform the newly created Food & Beverage working group in a Committee, should it be successful and respond to the members’ needs.

In this way, the Membership Department aims at satisfying its member’s needs, while constantly striving to increase the amount of members at the Chamber, so that more and more networking business opportunities can be generated. A strong membership base, as we believe, enhances the benefits for all affiliates.

Achievements: Julien Hauss Membership Manager

With 840 members, the French Chamber is now one of the largest European chambers in Hong Kong, also being one of the largest French chambers in the Asia-Pacific region. This figure increases every year, a direct consequence of the growing business interests between France, Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Moreover, the Members Privileges programme has experienced a major face-lift. The programme being directly affiliated with l’Union des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industries Française à l’Étranger (UCCIFE), members of the French Chamber are now entitled to benefit from exclusive offers such as discounts and advantages not only in Hong Kong, but also in France and in more than 50 countries around the world.

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Catherine Pielawa-Ko Head of Committees & Events

Committees Department

Objectives: The Membership Department aims at raising the interest of potential new members to the Chamber’s services, targeting not only the French, but also people originating from Hong Kong and any other countries, while it ensures that the Chamber continues to carry its legitimacy and influence to support the needs of its business community.

In order to achieve a better mutual understanding of business and society in the future, reflecting at the same time Hong Kong’s cosmopolitan environment, the Department will focus on developing a more multicultural horizon through its membership base. Consequently, the Membership Department has amplified its visibility by an increased presence at other Chamber’s events, as well as at other events organized by different parties of the Hong Kong business community.

The development of a user friendly online platform linked to our CRM, allowing users to update their profile, register to events or services, and even paying directly online, improved the Chamber’s understanding of its member’s specific needs. Online membership subscription and renewal also translates in a quicker and smoother access to the Chamber’s services.

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W

ith the support of the 15 committees of the Chamber, the Events Department strives to embrace Hong Kong’s dynamic and fast-changing market by organizing a wide range of large and small corporate events focused on topical subjects.

Annie Pudlo Events Manager

Through a series of events which are both practical and tailored to members’ needs – such as corporate seminars, workshops and social gatherings – the department provides opportunities to facilitate business development and networking.

Achievements: The department organized 109 events during the year 2011-2012, either alone or through cooperation with our institutional partners • 52 events initiated by the French Chamber • 20 events co-organized with other chambers in Hong Kong Vicky Chan Personal Assistant & Event Executive

Objectives Our goal is to strengthen our platform upon which members can forge better relationships with the business community. We aim to keep members informed of developments in their fields of interest and provide opportunities for them to meet with other business people and promote their businesses. In order to do so, the department will strive to organize events that match as closely as possible the industry needs of our various members.

In 2012 - 2013 we will support the Committees Department in organizing the third edition of the Made In Asia Seminar and the SME AWARD Ceremony.

Finally, we aim to increase the sponsorship of our events.

Detailed list of events organized by the department in 2011 – 2012: Seminars

Events Department 25 July 2011 Intercham

23 September 2011 HKTDC

The Honourable Hillary Rodham Clinton U.S. Secretary of State

Practical Workshop of Doing Business in China: Chinese Culture & Etiquette

Speaker: Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State 18 August 2011 HKTDC

Forum on “New Business Opportunities under China’s 12th Five-Year Programme Speakers: Pansy Yau, Deputy Chief Economist, HKTDC Dr Tim Summers, Managing Director, XTE China Consulting Ltd 1 September 2011 Intercham PRD Committee

MTR Infrastructure Development and Connectivity for Hong Kong & Pearl River Delta Speaker: T. C. Chew, Projects Director, Hong Kong MTR Corporation Limited

• 7 events with InterCham • 7 events co-promoted (BCE, BEC, EUBIP, Invest HK, etc.)

13 September 2011 CleanTuesday - How Angels vs. VCs Operate in Asian Cleantech

• 22 supported events • 1 event in support of charity These represent • 62 seminars • 8 large-scale events • 10 SME lunches • 19 networking events • 6 delegations or business missions • 1 supported charity event • 3 supported cultural events The department developed a sponsorship scheme for its events, offering our partners a large visibility platform when they support events such as the prominent speakers’ series, the annual events’ sponsorship, the annual dinner or any French chamber’s events.

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7 July 2011 Banking and Finance Committee of the French Chamber

Sovereign debt does and their worldwide implications: What is ahead?

Speakers: Michala Marcussen, Global Head of Economics Takuji Okubo, Chief Japan Economist Vincent Chaigneau, Global Head of Rate Strategy Christian Carrillo, Head of Asia-Pacific Interest Rate Strategy

17 September 2011 International Coastal Clean-up 2011 – Hong Kong

Global Event, Local Attend!

20 September 2011 French Chamber Annual General Meeting

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Events Department

27 September 2011 Inter SME with the Australian Chamber of Commerce

Social Media: Small is the New Big… How SME’s can use Social Media to stand out among the Giants Speakers: Jay Oatway, public speaker Napoleon Biggs, Head of Digital Integration, Fleishman-Hillard

10 October 2011 French Chamber

Debra Meiburg, wine journalist

The Keys to your Successful Integration in Hong Kong

David Ketchum, Asia Pacific President, Bite Communications

Speakers: Paul Harrison, Phoenix Conservation Ltd.

30 September 2011 Banking and Finance Committee of the French Chamber

On the Brink: Exceptional Circumstances, Exceptional Policies Speaker: Patrick ARTUS, Chief Economist, Natixis 30 September 2011 Business Environment Council

EnviroSeries Conference 2011: City Dynamics - Infrastructure, Connectivity and Logistics

Charles Ng, Associate Director General of Investment promotion, Invest Hong Kong Maryse Kraatz, Executive Director, French Chamber Nicolas Vanderchmitt, Partner, Hong Kong Office at LPA, Lefevre Pelletier & associes Alexandra HUI, Executive Tax Director, Mazars Ludovic VALLS, General Manager, Unigroup Alice Kaushal, Managing Director, Refine consulting Francis Moriarty, Senior Reporter, Radio Television Hong Kong 19 October 2011 Joint event organized with the Norwegian Chamber

Plastic Disclosure Project: “Engaging with Business to Solve a Growing Environmental Problem” Speakers: Doug Woodring, founder, the Ocean Recovery Alliance Erik Floyd, Co-founder, the Plastic Disclosure Project

Kit Juckes, Head of Foreign Exchange Research

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20 October 2011 Joint event organized with the Dutch Chamber

China Seminar 2020

15 November 2011 China Overseas Investment Summit

6 February 2012 Joint Event with the Canadian Chamber

1 March 2012 French Chamber

13 March 2012 YP Committee of the French Chamber

Several speakers

Carrie Lam, Secretary for Development, HKSAR

India: past performances and future challenges

YP and VI Committee Round Table Series: GEN.Y: What does Gen Y want?

Speaker: Chris Devonshire-Ellis, Principal & Founding Partner, Dezan Shira & Associates

Speaker: Christine Raynaud, CEO, the China Group

Speakers: Harold Van Kooten, Special Counsel, Baker & McKenzie

17 November 2011 Joint event with the Italian Chamber

7 February 2012 YP Committee of the French Chamber

Viviano Villarreal, Architect, Business Manager, OMA Hong Kong

Which are Asia’s Most Attractive Luxury Markets and is Asia Immune to Fallout from the Growing Eurozone Crisis?

YP and VI Committee Round Table Series: Project Management

David Lunsford, Hong Kong representative, IETA Sunny Wong, Group Managing Director of Trinity Ltd 23 October 2011 Ocean Conservancy

Global Event, Local Attend: International coastal clean-up 2011 Hong Kong 1 November 2011 China Committee of the French Chamber

Speaker: Vincent Avrillon, Director of Operations (Civil Works), Dragages Hong Kong

Speaker: Paul Husband, Managing Director, Husband Retail Consulting Ltd

17 February 2012 French Chamber

22 November 2011 Business Advisor Committee of the French Chamber

Saving Face in China

An Introduction to Angel Investment Speaker: Barry Jones, Principal, Maroon Ventures

Speaker: Anne-Laure Monfret, author and journalist 10 January 2012 Luxury & Retail Committee of the French Chamber

New energies and Global warming: Exclusive private luncheon with outstanding professors

23 November 2011 Joint event organized with the European Chamber

Speakers: Jean Salençon, French Academy of Sciences (former President) & French Academy of Technologies, Paris – Professor Emeritus at the Ecole Polytechnique

Europe: Opportunity in Adversity

What is unique about the Chinese Luxury market and makes it immune to recession?

Speaker: Ben Jones, Analyst, Economist Intelligence Unit

Speaker: Serge Hoffmann, Partner, Bain & Company

Philippe G. Ciarlet, University Distinguished Professor, Department of Mathematics, City University of Hong Kong

2 December 2011 French Chamber

19 January 2012 China Committee of the French Chamber

How I became a millionaire thanks to the net…without understanding anything to it

Prominent speaker series: The Hon. Regina IP LAU Suk Yee, GBS, JP

Jean-Christophe Yoccoz, Medaille Fields (1994), Professor at the College de France Prof Jian LU, Dean of College of Science and Engineering at City University Hong Kong 2 November 2011 Intercham

The Honourable Donald Tsang, Chief Executive, HKSAR 3 November 2011 European Chamber and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

Listing of European Companies in Hong Kong Several speakers

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Events Department

Speaker: Orianne Garcia, Author 6 December 2011 Joint Event with the European Chamber

Luncheon with Klaus Regling, CEO, EFSF 8 December 2011 China Committee of the French Chamber Can China Save the world? Challenges & risks of the Chinese economy

17 February 2012 French Chamber

Building an SME Finance Function Speaker: Barry Jones, Principal, Maroon Ventures 22 February 2012 Banking & Finance Committee of the French Chamber

Dealing with the UK Bribery Act: what you need to know Speaker: Hugh Gozzard, Principal, Enterprise Risk Services, Deloitte Hong Kong 22 February 2012 Intercham

The Honourable John Tsang, Financial Secretary, HKSAR 28 February 2012 Inter SME organized by the French Chamber

IT infrastructure for SMEs: Cloud computing IT infrastructure and some deployment challenges and issues Speaker: Sunil Sadhwani & Dr Jacky Keung, Dept. of Computing, Polytechnic University Hong Kong

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Events Department

Ross O’Brien, Economist, Corporate Network 7 March 2012 Women On Board committee of the French Chamber and the Women’s Foundation Celebrate International Women’s Day 2012 Speaker: Jennifer Woo, Chairman and CEO, Lane Crawford Joyce Group 8 March 2012 French Chamber

Turning Crisis into Profit: How to Make Money Investing in Property Speaker: Tim Murphy, Founder and CEO, IP Global 9 March 2012 Women on Boards Executive Forum

Women on Boards - Executive Forum Speakers: Jan de Silva, Dean, Ivey Asia, Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario Elin Hurvenes, Founder, Professional Boards Forum, Norway and UK Tan Sri Datuk (dr) Rafiah Salim, Director, NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women, Malaysia Fiona Shand, Partner, Shand & Associates, Australia Orianne Chenain, Deputy General Manager, French Chamber

20 March 2012 HR Committee of the French Chamber

Leadership in Asia: Fuelling the Talent Pipe Speakers: Karen Ferguson, Executive VicePresident, Global Human Resources, Schneider Electric Corinne Balaam, Director Partner Development, Executive Education, INSEAD Olivier Maitre, Head of HR, Strategic Projects, HSBC Asia Pacific Josephine Teo, General Manager, Human Resources, L’Oreal Hong Kong 26 March 2012 Joint event with the European Chamber of Commerce

Workshop Day at the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Several speakers 28 March 2012 Joint event with the European Chamber of Commerce

Sovereign Debt Crisis in Greece and Europe Speaker: Dr Constantine A. Papadopoulos, Secretary-General, International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affair, Greece

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29 March 2012 Joint event with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

China Roundtable Luncheon: Economic Outlook on China Speaker: Stephen Schwartz, BBVA, Chief Economist

24 April 2012 YP Committee of the French Chamber

YP and VI Committee Round Table Series: The value of events now and tomorrow

6 June 2012 Joint event with German Chamber of Commerce

26 April 2012 HR Committee of the French Chamber

Marie-Amelie Hoffmann, General Manager, LVMH Watches Hong Kong & Macau

Shifting political weights and the effects on the Euro crisis

4 May 2012 Business Environment Council

Speaker: Dr Jacques Gravereau, President, HEC EURASIA Institute

BEC EnviroSeries Conference: Supporting Organization Invitation Several Speakers 10 May 2012 French Chamber

Permanence Fiscale Speakers: Nicolas Vanderchmitt, Partner of the Hong Kong Office, LPA, Lefevre Pelletier & associes

Lam Woon-Kwong, Chairperson, Equal Opportunities Commission Kay McArdle, Board Chair, The Women’s Foundation Elspeth Renshaw, Partner, TalentPartners of Talent 2 International Pattie Walsh, Partner, DLA Piper 25 May 2012 Joint event with Dutch Chamber of Commerce

Mongolia: Overview, Opportunities & Challenges Speaker: Philip ter Woort, Head of the Resident Office, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (‘EBRD’)

Agnès Maréchal-Cohen, Taxe and Legal Adviser-Notaire, Lefèvre Pelletier et associés Hong Kong 17 May 2012 YP Committee of the French Chamber

YP and VI Committee Round Table Series: Creating, growing and taking over businesses in Greater China Speakers: Frédéric Guiral, Asia Pacific Director, Aigle International 24 April 2012 Luxury Committee of the French Chamber

Can Social Media Be Tailored For Luxury Brands?

Speaker: Thomas Crampton, Asia-Pacific Director, Ogilvy

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Swirl, sniff, sip and savour at “Rendez vous with Fine Wine

Speakers: Kate Bravery, Hong Kong Business Leader, Human Capital Consulting, Mercer

Speaker: Christine Raynaud, CEO, the China Group

What new drivers for the Chinese Economy? The end of the Chongqing Model?

The Gender Gap in Pay Discussion Panels

28 May 2012 South China Morning Post

Speaker: Beatrice Remy, Director of Business Development, Luminous

Women in workplace: What Matters?

16 April 2012 French Chamber

18 May 2012 Joint event with the Women’s Foundation

Events Department

Frank Cancelloni, CEO Asia-Pacific, Devanlay

Speaker: Dr Michael Fuchs, MdB, Deutscher Bundestag 7 June 2012 Joint event with the Irish Chamber of Commerce

Trends in Recruitment in Asia’: Recruiter Event 2012 Speakers: Mark Meenan, Client Development Manager, Webber Fox

Leadership and Women as non-executive board members Speaker: Dominique Heriard Dubreuil, CEO and chairman of the board, Rémy Cointreau

In the Trenches: Dispatches from the Shanghai People’s Courts Speaker: Maarten Roos, founder, R&P China Lawyers, Shanghai 20 June 2012 Joint Event with the European Chamber

EU Investment Funds: What future for the Euro and the investment fund industry? Latest update from the regulatory landscape Speaker: Tilman Lueder, Head of Unit, Asset Management, Directorate General for Internal Market and Services, European Commission

Paul Evans, Managing Director, Gradwell Evans

20 June 2012 Green Business Committee of the French Chamber

Derek Kenny, Director, Gulf Connexions Group

Visit of EcoPark - Hong Kong local recycling industry

Adam Jeffes, Manager, Morgan McKinley Daniel Cardon, Manager, Robert Walters

26 June 2012 Joint event with Women on Board Committee and Women’s Foundation

8 June 2012 Joint event with European Chamber of Commerce

How to negotiate and increase your salary: tips and practical solutions for women

The Euro Area in Q2 2012: Taking Stock - Where to Next?

Speakers: Kate Bravery, Hong Kong Business Leader, Human Capital Consulting, Mercer

Speaker: Jens Sondergaard, Senior European Economist, Nomura International 28 May 2012 French Chamber

19 June 2012 Joint event with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce

14 June 2012 HKTDC

How to Optimise Business Operations in China through a Hong Kong Company Speakers: Thaddaeus Mueller, Associate Director, Fiducia Management Consultants

Large-scale events

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Events Department

15 November 2011 MIPIM

MIPIM Asia 2011 - Where the World’s Property Leaders Converge in Asia Pacific 25 November 2011 HKTDC

Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference 28 November 2011 BODW

Business of Design Week (BODW) 2011 16-17 January 2012 HKTDC

Asian Financial Forum “Asia: Driving Sustainable Growth” 27 March 2012 French Chamber

Forum “Travailler Ensemble”

Marie-Amelie Hoffmann, General Manager, LVMH Watches Hong Kong & Macau Lam Woon-Kwong, Chairperson, Equal Opportunities Commission Kay McArdle, Board Chair, The Women’s Foundation Elspeth Renshaw, Partner, Talent Partners of Talent 2 International Pattie Walsh, Partner, DLA Piper

Michael Lintern-Smith, Former President, Law Society of Hong Kong; Senior Partner, Robertsons, Solicitor

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Events Department

3-4 May 2012 French Chamber

20 September 2011 French Chamber

11 January 2012 How to value one’s SME

Made In Asia: Sourcing in Asia, future trends and models

Annual Dinner: 25

14 June 2012 YP & VI Cocktail: Revert’s exhibition at the Space

Events taking place outside Hong Kong

8 February 2012 Online and Mobile Marketing for SMEs

17-20 May 2012 Art HK

27 September 2011 Women On Board Committee of the French Chamber

HongKong International Art Fair

WOB Botero Cocktail

1 June 2012 French Chamber Gala Dinner

Speaker: Shirley YABLONSKY, Director, Opera Gallery

Les Ailes du Desir 21 June 2012 Investance Institute

French Toast: When Existing Members Meet New Members

Networking Events

9 November 2011 Intercham

Joint Cocktail: A European Summer Networking Cocktail!

31 August 2011 Intercham

47th Young Professionals Cocktail

Villes d’Avenir: City of the Future Tour – Xi’an 17-21 October 2011 French Chamber in Taiwan and South Korea

Mission Itinérante: Taïwan - Corée du Sud 14 March 2012 French Chamber

April 2012 French Chamber in China

China, Cities of the Future 2012 Tour

48th Young Professionals Cocktail

French toast: Meet the Directors of the French Chambers in Asia

29 November 2011 Joint Event with Dutch & Italian Chambers

22 March 2012 YP & VI committee of the French Chamber

SME Bluebiz Cocktail Part II

Cocktail YP & VI: Welcoming drink for the new VI

Speakers: Herman Wan, Corporate Sales Manager, Air France KLM

19 April 2012 French Chamber 17 January 2012 Green Committee of the French Chamber

French toast: Come and celebrate with the Councillors the 800th Member

Green Business Networking SpeedDating

10 May 2012 Young Professionals Committee of the French Chamber

19 January 2012 YP committee of the French Chamber

Cocktail YP & VI: Welcoming drink for the new VI 7 February 2012 French Chamber

French toast: Meet the Executive Committee 15 February 2012 Intercham

49th Intercham Young Professionals Cocktail

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19-20 September 2011 French Chamber in China

Speaker: Claire Fenner, Co-Founder & CEO Heels & Deals

10 October 2011 French Chamber

Post-Trade Insider 2012

18 August 2011 French Chamber

13 December 2011 Women On Board Committee of the French Chamber ‘Women on Board’ & ‘Women of Influence’ Cocktail: All on Social Networking & you...

7 June 2012 French Chambers of Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar

12 March 2012 Marketing / Communication for SMEs 18 April 2012 The entrepreneurial stories: tips, experience and inspiration to move forward! - Chatté 9 May 2012 The Financing of SMEs 13 June 2012 Foreign pensions for French people and their assets Supported charities

Exceptional Business Delegation to Myanmar

23 March 2012 Children of the Mekong Fundraising Party

15 June 2012 Marques

Supported cultural events

Brand Protection in China and Europe in the 21st Century

22 October 2011 The Quartet of Burgundy

28 June 2012 French Chamber in China

MANFRED QUARTET: An exceptional evening in cooperation with two musicians from RTHK Quartet

Villes d’Avenir: City of Future, Chengdu

Young Professionals Cocktail

SME Committee Lunches

29 May 2012 Intercham

14 September 2011 Back to Work SME lunch

Intercham 9th Connecting People Cocktail

12 October 2011 Relations with Chinese factories

13 June 2012 French Chamber

9 November 2011 Introduction on insurance with a focus on products liability: how insurance works to help business owners thoroughly protect their balance sheet

Cocktail: Meet the Chinese Enterprises Association members

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Events Department

25 & 26 April 2012 The Quartet of Bordeaux

Khloros Concert - Odile Perceau

14 December 2011 The Entrepreneurial Stories: tips, experience and inspiration to move forward! - Red Packet

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The French Chamber’s Annual Gala Dinner 2012 – 1st of June at the Grand Hyatt in HK: Les Ailes du désir The French Chamber Gala Dinner – which has several times in the past been proclaimed “The best gala in Hong Kong” – was held this year on the 1st of June at the Grand Hyatt.

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The French Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual gala dinner in the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt hotel Wan Chai. The event was aptly themed Les Ailes du Desir (the Wings of Desire).

“Desire is what drives Hong Kong as a city,” the chamber’s executive director, Maryse Kraatz, said.

More than 500 guests attended the gala,

all dressed to the nines. Grand Cru wines accompanied a four-course dinner by chef Frederic Anton of three-Michelinstarred Paris restaurant Le Pre Catelan.

A runway set up by head table was used to showcase high-fashion house Elie Saab’s latest pre-autumn ready-to-wear collection’.

Events Department

Models sashayed down the runway in Saab’s signature sequined evening gowns, giving guests an incentive to buy raffle tickets for the chance to win a dress by the brand. Proceeds from the sale were donated to Music for the Growing Mind-a charity that introduces underprivileged children to classical music. The chamber raised HK$355,000,

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Events Department

which was matched dollar for dollar by Foundation Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Guest Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet­ngor, the secretary for development, shared her appreciation for France. “When I was in Paris and Cannes, I couldn’t help but be inspired by the heritage of those cities,” she said.

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T

he department endeavours to inform the Chamber’s 850+ members, and to offer them visibility through our various printed and online publications.

Julie Pourtois Head of Publications

We inform the members about the latest economic developments in France and in Hong Kong; about the major political decisions taken by the Hong Kong Government; and about trends and changes in the six pillar sectors of the Hong Kong’s economy.

We offer several channels where members can reach and inform their peers about their business developments: HongKongEcho magazine, fcccihk.com, the directory or Flash Info.

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Publications Department

Publications Department

Board; Alain Ducasse, Three Stars Chef; Pierre Gagnaire, Three Stars Chef; John C Tsang, Financial Secretary HKSAR; Debra Meiburg, Master of Wine; Robert Beynat, General Manager Vinexpo; or Dr. York Chow, Secretary for Food & Health HKSAR. HongKongEcho currently has a standard circulation of 6,500. About 60% of the magazines are distributed to the business lounges of Air France, British Airways and Cathay Pacific (it is the only chamber’s magazine to be distributed in the Business and First Class lounges of CX), while 40% are sent to members of the French Chamber, government officials and other members of the international business community in Hong Kong and France.

Achievements

Sine Choy Publications Manager

Hong Kong Echo magazine

Directory

Flash Info

Objectives:

The magazine is thriving, and over the years has gained a reputation in a Hong Kong as a reliable reference source for its neutral and business-oriented content. As the official magazine of the one of the largest European Chambers in Hong Kong, HongKongEcho gathers for each issue 25,000 readers. In a media environment where most printed magazines are struggling to make ends meet, HongKongEcho’s advertisements keep increasing.

The 2012 edition of the Members Directory has been well-received, both in terms of its user-friendly format and the usefulness of the information provided.

Members can modify their online profile at will, and validate it just weeks before the directory’s publication. For the second time this year, the directory was designed in-house which was a great success. 1,400 copies were printed.

The newsletter Flash Info is sent to our entire member base every two weeks.

In addition to providing up-to-date news about our members, it also keeps readers abreast of the French Chamber’s upcoming events as well as other local events of potential interest.

One of our main objectives for the coming year is to increase the visibility of French Chamber members within the Hong Kong business community. We hope to achieve this by publishing more of our members’ press releases on our website and newsletter.

The major achievements attained during this fiscal year were the in-house revamping of the magazine’s grid; and the full in-house production by the publications department starting with issue 65.

Herve Pannecoucke IT Manager

Over the year, the magazine focussed on four diverse subjects: Women on Board (Autumn 2011); Gastronomy & the City (Winter 2011); Wine and the City (Spring 2012); and Feeling & Looking Good in Hong Kong (Summer 2012).

Many quality articles were contributed by legal, fiscal and industry experts.

Our outstanding contributors included: Margaret Leung Ko May Yee, CEO Hang Seng Bank; Jacques Seguela, cofounder EuroRSCG; Dominique Heriard Dubreuil, CEO Remy Cointreau; James Tien, Chairman Hong Kong Tourism

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We will also continue to develop the excellent relations we entertain with our advertisers, to enhance the magazine’s visibility in the community.

Website The website is an important tool for connecting with our members, and for the public at large. Unique visitors and pages viewed are ever increasing, from 5,000 in 2010-11 to 6,000 unique visitors in 201112 and from 50,000 in 2010-11 to 60,000 pages viewed in 2011-12 (+20%).

A very useful and unique service has been created during this last fiscal year in partnership with AFP: the FCCIHK mobile website. This smartphone spinoff of our website keeps our members informed about our latest events, members and economic news, and job openings. Launched in November 2011, the mobile website gathers 350 unique visitors per month or roughly one third of our membership base.

Pages Viewed per month 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 1-Jun

1-Jul

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1-Jun

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T

he Recruitment Department is a professional recruitment consultancy covering sectors such as Trading/ Sourcing, Engineering/Technical and Luxury for clients (members and nonmembers) in Hong Kong.

We specialize in recruiting multilingual and multicultural staff from junior to executive level.

Dolora Angeles Head of the Recruitment & Training Department

Achievements The department achieved good results this fiscal year, confirming the strength of the economic recovery and reflecting companies’ increased employment activity.

Hiring expectations reached a new high and the Recruitment Department increased the number of senior level placements.

Christelle Ferrari Recruitment consultant

The unemployment rate in Hong Kong fell to 3.2% in the period November 2011 - January 2012, signifying a state of full employment in the labour market.

A positive hiring sentiment is prevailing among employers. Although the employment situation may become more challenging in the next months.

About the candidates Candidates’ placements

Aurelie Racine Recruitment consultant

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Thanks to a strong local economy, the department handled 180 job opportunities and successfully placed 60 candidates. The European financial situation has impacted the recruitment strategy of French companies which were more careful in their selection and therefore a placement would take twice as much time as it used to be. Employers have been looking for middle and senior profiles which represented 47% of our placements.

Recruitment & Training Department

Candidates’ profile

Events and Information

Half of our candidates are middle to senior level managers, whom we placed in a wide variety of positions, including managing director, business development director, retail director, marketing manager, communications manager, business developer, supply chain manager, financial analyst, recruitment consultant, architect, graphic designer, IT manager, product developer, merchandiser, personal assistant, sales coordinator and executive assistant.

Twice a month, the department organises job Information meetings, called Réunion d’Information sur l’Emploi (RIE), for French-speaking candidates who have recently settled in Hong Kong. During these meetings, various employment topics are discussed, such as labour laws, work visas, resume writing, wage conditions and work search tips.

Employers’ profile 75% of our clients are French Chamber members. We have developed an indepth expertise in the following sectors: luxury, trading, manufacturing, retail, recruitment, textile, cosmetic, IT, finance and consulting.

Candidates’ registration The Recruitment Department welcomes all applications from French and local candidates looking for jobs in Hong Kong.

Our consultants interview each applicant carefully to evaluate their experience and skills. The department is then able to quickly and efficiently meet its clients’ needs.

Our database hosts 3726 active candidates, 987 of whom have been interviewed face-to-face by our consultants this year. Around 60% are French, 33% Hong Kong Chinese, and 7% other nationalities. We have noticed a profile evolution in that recently we have received more applications from Hong Kong residents who have been educated in France and can speak French, English, Cantonese and Mandarin. We have also interviewed more French nationals who have gained professional experience in mainland China.

The Recruitment Department met and advised more than 120 newcomers as part of this programme this year, 70% of whom were under 30 years old.

Joblink is a bi-monthly, email newsletter in which we introduce a selection of talents ready for interviews in (or near) Hong Kong. It is sent to more than 4,000 contacts in Hong Kong including all our members and clients and is a tool that enables local and French companies to be informed directly about our best candidates’ skills and profiles.

Comité Consulaire pour l’Emploi (Committee for Employment) The Recruitment Department is involved in the Comité Consulaire pour l’Emploi, which is dedicated to supporting French nationals in their job search in Hong Kong. The department shares with all its French candidates its knowledge and insights of the local job market and helps to be efficient in their job search in Hong Kong, by adapting to the local requirements, rewriting the CVs, preparing them for interviews…

Fresh graduates program In order to continue to meet the increasing needs of our members and clients, the department is working with well-known business and engineering schools in France, including HEC, Edhec, Essec, ESCP, Ecoles des Mines, Ecole Centrale de Paris and Ensam.

This has enabled us to build up a large database of fresh graduates who are based in France but willing to seek their first job or internship in Hong Kong and South China.

Training program The Recruitment Department is in charge of the training offer to our members.

This year we 13 training events were organised, the focus was more on personal development skills and specific skills. These sessions were set up with training institutes such as, Alphaeight, Cresco, AKA Outsourcing, l’Ecole du vin, Dew-Point and Refine.

For the next fiscal year, we will offer a wider range of professional training options to meet both managerial and technical needs.

Internship Platform To better coordinate the demands and offers of members and the needs of candidates, the French Chamber has designed a free internship platform as an exemplary programme for other chambers.

Objectives

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Recruitment & Training Department

The recruitment activity is still very dynamic in Hong Kong, but indicators call for caution. On the other hand, the French entrepreneurial dynamism in Hong Kong should help maintain a high level of recruitment together with more French companies looking to expand the awareness of their brand in Asia and therefore locating more and more headquarters in Hong Kong.

As the financial situation in Europe remains uncertain, more and more French companies and candidates will look into the Asian market and particularly Hong Kong to develop their businesses or find new opportunities.

The Recruitment department will maintain its high quality of services to answer their needs.

On the training part, for the next fiscal year, we will focus on a more managerial and technical training program to offer to our members with certifying programs.

We will also develop more services to French Business and Engineering schools to help fresh graduates discover the Asia Pacific market.

Previously, the Recruitment Department helped place between five and 10 trainees per year. This platform is now well known and utilized among our members and students looking for a trainee/internship. This year, we received 21 internship opportunities, and 209 candidates have registered. This platform brought about 9,000 web connections, of which 38% were professionals looking for a trainee. Since the creation of this free platform the matching efficiency has dramatically improved and we estimate that 65 internships were filled as a direct result. Thanks to our great network of French Business and Engineering schools, more and more students from excellent Masters and MBA programs have registered on our platform and there will be more to come.

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Relations with our Hong Kong and foreign partners

Invest Hong Kong Invest HK is a significant partner of the French Chamber in promoting Hong Kong to French companies in France.

Over the past year, the number of French companies investing in Hong Kong has continued to rise and we believe that our combined efforts were instrumental in this increase. Invest HK is also a key partner for global presentations that the Chamber often does on Hong Kong’s economy, and for sectional talks during our individual missions.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) The French Chamber strives to maintain constant and close relations with the Hong Kong Government and the various institutions dedicated to the promotion of Hong Kong and/or international business interests.

The Hong Kong SAR Government Over the years, the French Chamber has built strong ties with the Hong Kong authorities, at different levels and with different departments.

The primary aim of our Policy & Consultation committee, the Chamber’s Think Tank, is to voice the Chamber’s views on government policies and initiatives in Hong Kong.

This Committee, with the feedback of the 15 other committees of the Chamber, has prepared:

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The French Chamber recommendations to the Chief Executive for the 201213 Policy Address, submitted in June 2012, and The French Chamber recommendations for the 2012 Budget, submitted in February 2012. Both are available on our website.

As residents of Hong Kong, and important contributors to the SAR’s employment market, we feel very proud to be able to closely work for a better Hong Kong with local authorities and other influential institutions.

The International Business Committee (IBC) Our Chamber is an active member of the IBC, an organization gathering the Chief Secretary of the HKSAR government with the chairmen of the foreign chambers of commerce in Hong Kong. Various subjects are covered by this committee, including air pollution and cooperation with the mainland, waste management, education of foreign nationals in Hong Kong, and the goods and services tax.

This organization is another partner of our Chamber and we work with them on several fronts. The mains one are: Promoting their trade fairs in Hong Kong to our members and companies in France; helping them find partners for the organization of joint missions in France; and acting as a natural partner when French companies come to Hong Kong.

The Business Coalition on the Environment (BCE) The Hong Kong Business Coalition on the Environment (BCE) is a partnership of various business and private sector organisations formed to create a coherent voice addressing environmental matters. It aims to promote greater environmental awareness, responsibility and performance in the business community and to act as a catalyst for government actions and policy changes toward an improved environment for Hong Kong. It also seeks to promote environmental cooperation and awareness in the Pearl River Delta. The French Chamber in Hong Kong is an active member of this partnership.

The European Chamber of Commerce (ECC)

Intercham Intercham is an informal group whose mission is to organize events such as the annual lunch for the business community with the Chief Executive and the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR.

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Institutional Partners

Intercham regularly organizes businessmatching events, as well as the much appreciated Young Professional cocktails. The profits generated by these initiatives are allocated to a charity, typically a scholarship fund.

The French Chamber kept its active participation in the Intercham, and in the Intercham PRD. Pearl River Delta integration is one of our main focuses, and our committees, such as the China and the Human Resources Committees, often open their events to the Intercham PRD.

The ECC is an association gathering the European Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and is a “Chamber of Chambers”.

This year, the ECC continued to undertake the EUBIP project, now entering its third year: The European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP) is a three-year initiative that aims to enhance awareness of Europe in Hong Kong and Macao. EUBIP is a partnership between the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Institute of European Studies of Macao (IEEM). It is funded by grants from the European Commission and IPIM.

The committee is a unique forum in which the international business community has the opportunity to share its views with the highest levels of government. On the government side, the Chief Secretary of Administration chairs. The government pays great attention to the international business community and takes their views into account when formulating policy.

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Relations with our French partners in Hong Kong

Relations with our partners in France

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Institutional Partners

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong also coordinates actions with the different services of the French Consulate as well as with other French institutions in Hong Kong and in France.

The Consulate-General of France in Hong Kong and Ubifrance The French Chamber collaborates with the different departments of the French Consulate and Cultural Affairs and Ubifrance.

We support the specialized “VIE” mission of Ubifrance, having several open space desks in our Business Centre expressly dedicated to VIEs representing French companies based in France. Furthermore the Chamber helps to coach the VIEs. On average, the Chamber supports at least five VIEs a year.

The French International School Founded in 1964, the French International School is now one of the largest and best international schools in Hong Kong, taking in more than 2200 students this academic year.

This growth is the result of the school’s excellent international reputation: its outstanding results as well as its exceptional curriculum (offering a Bilingual section, Oriental section and a highly recognised English-stream International section). These are definite factors of choice when families have to decide whether or not to settle in Hong Kong.

We would also like to congratulate the school’s Executive Committee for being able to adapt its capacity to the Frenchspeaking population’s increase in Hong Kong, opening additional sites in recent years, and as such highly contributing to the exceptional growth in the number of French nationals in Hong Kong, which has reached an unofficial figure of almost 15,000.

Union des CCI Françaises à l’Etranger (UCCIFE) The French Chamber is a member of UCCIFE (Association of French Chambers of Commerce Abroad). UCCIFE represents 149 French Chambers abroad in 77 countries and its mission is to act as a network coordinator circulating information, cooperation and know-how, promoting its members to the business networks in France and supporting some specific services. The UCCIFE network represents some 30,000 members around the world.

Belonging to this network gives us the opportunity to share experiences and to help our members do business around the world.

The French Chamber participates twice a year in UCCIFE seminars, once with all the international French Chambers and once with all the French Chambers in Asia, for experience-sharing.

All French chambers of commerce in Asia gathered for their annual meeting in Hong Kong last March. Growth, Innovation and dynamism were the key words, explaining the large success of this network. Thanks to an increase in the French presence in most of these countries and top notch services to members, this Asian network represents now more than 8000 French and local companies members. Fostering trade between France and each of these countries, lobbying with the local and the French authorities, offering the best possible networking platform to their members are some of the missions of these chambers. The other mission is to help all French companies based in France to approach these markets and more than 4000 French companies have been, in 2011, supported to approach, export or settle in Asia. This network is a completely independent and private network, autofinanced by its members and its services.

Almost all Asia was represented (Australia, Cambodia, China, Korea, Hong Kong,

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India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam )and two from the Middle-East (EAU Abu Dhabi, EAU Dubai). A large delegation from France was also there, with the UCCIFE (Charles Maridor), ACFCI (Dominique Brunin) and two large regional chambers: CCI Paris (Martine Stepanek) and CCI Alsace (Didier Hoffman).

This 3-days meeting was used to share insights and know-how, in order to offer enhanced services to all our members.

Several actions have been discussed to enhance the coordination between chambers in Asia, coordinate market information towards France and create sectorial approaches. The French Chamber in Hong Kong has been appointed for the second year coordinator of the French Chambers in Asia.

ACFCI The French Chamber also has strong relations with the ACFCI (Association des Chambres Françaises de Commerce et d’Industrie or Association of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry), which gathers together 155 French Chambers in France and 20 regional chambers.

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs The French Chamber’s Recruitment Department is involved in the “Comité Consulaire pour l’emploi”, dedicated to helping and supporting French Nationals in their job or internship search in Hong Kong. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocates a subsidy for the Chamber to perform this public service; this year, through its bi-monthly meetings (called “Reunion d’Information Emploi”), the Chamber received applications from more than 150 French Nationals seeking a job in Hong Kong.

We would like to warmly thank members of all these committee for their on-going support of the French Chamber.

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French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

French Chamber 2011-2012 Annual Report

Financial Report

The financial statements 01 July 2011 - 30 June 2012 have been audited by Mazars CPA Limited.

The Chamber’s activities continued to grow and to be profitable with a net surplus before taxation of HK$ 778,101, representing an increase of 13% compared to previous fiscal year.

The Chamber’s accumulated surplus amounts to HK$ 7,055,234 as of June 30th 2012.

1. Total Income was of HK$23,184,758, representing an increase of 25% compared to previous year and was derived from growth from the following services of the chamber: Business services +44%

2011/2012

2010/2011

Income HK$

of which Membership HK$

18,463,115 3,689,120

Events +16% Membership +11% Recruitment/Training services were steady whilst Advertising was down by 17%

2. Direct costs were at HK$ 8,591,707, an increase of 15% while General Expenditure amounted to HK$ 13,816,285 up 32%, with salaries representing 66% and rental 16%general expenditure amounted to HK$ 10,417,168 up 16%, with salaries representing 66% and rental 15%

23,184,758 HK$ 4,097,803 HK$

Expenses HK$ 22,407,992 HK$ 17,873,157

of which Direct Costs HK$ 8,591,707 HK$ 7,455,989 Global expenses HK$ 13,816,285 HK$ 10,417,168

Profit/(Loss) of the year(before taxation) HK$ 778,101 HK$ 687,470 Taxation HK$ 226,890 HK$ 106,671 Profit/(Loss) of the year (after taxation) HK$ 551,211 HK$ 580,853

Accumulated surplus HK$ 7,055,234 HK$ 6,504,023

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