Annual Report 2012

annual report

20112012

Departments’ Activities

36 Business Development

40 Committees

41 Membership

42 Events

50 Publications

52 Recruitment

56 Institutional Partners 60 Financial Report

CONTENTS

04 President’s Note

05 Executive Director’s Overview

06 Highlights

12 Who’s who at the French Chamber President & Executive Committee Council Committees Permanent Staff

16 Membership profile in 2011/2012

20 Committees’ Activities 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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Last 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”.

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

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.

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.

President’s Note

Nicolas Borit President

Dear members,

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.

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 non-French 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.

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.

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.

Executive Director’s Overview

Maryse Kraatz Executive Director

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Highlights of 2011/2012

100 EVENTS

840 members

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

220 SMEs met and advised

Awarded the best Business Development Department of a French chamber abroad

55 new companies set up in HK

25,000 readers for HongKongEcho

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Highlights of 2011/2012

470 members involved in 15 committees

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

RevampedHongKongEcho

2 new working groups:

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HR PANEl on how best fuelling the talent pipe

Networking cocktail with Chinese Enterprises Association at Opera Gallery

First Green Businessspeed dating

Technology – Banking & Finance Food and Beverage

LObby: 4 recommendations to the Hong Kong Government

WOMENON bOarD

–Cooperation

with the Women’s

Foundation

builders Innovative Gatherings (bIG): 10 business-matching meetings

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Highlights of 2011/2012

Luxury & retail: Event onSocial Media for luxury brands

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2nd edition of Made in Asia Sourcing Seminar

800th Member Cocktail

250 young professionals at yP & VI cocktail

French Chambers in asiaannual meeting in HK

The color of France is burgundy

LarGErbusiness

Centre

Grand Est Mission100 individualappointments

organized

Bordeaux3 tailored

conferences

Newcomersseminar

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Who’s who at the French Chamber

President and Executive CommitteePresidentNicolas BORIT, DRAGAGES HONG KONG LTD

Vice-presidentsJacques BOISSIER, CLASSIC FINE FOODS (HK) LTD Christophe DEGOIx, LVMH - FASHION DIVISION ASIA PACIFICPhilippe GRELON, VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES HONG KONG LTDMarie-Amelie HOFFMANN, LVMH WATCH & JEWELLERY HONG KONG LTDPhilippe NEVEU, JORDAHL HONG KONG LTD Rebecca SILLI, GIDE LOYRETTE NOUEL

General SecretaryNicolas VANDERCHMITT, LPA, LEFEVRE PELLETIER & ASSOCIES

TreasurerEric LECHAUDEL, CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK

Executive MembersPascal LAMBERT, SOCIETE GENERALE CORPORATE & INVESTMENT BANKINGPaul YANG, BNP PARIBAS

Honorary PresidentsRichard BURTON, COFACE HONG KONG BRANCHPaul CLERC-RENAUD, FARGO GROUPGérard MILLET, SODICA ASIA LTD

List on 30 June 2012

CouncilJacques BOISSIER CLASSIC FINE FOODS (HK) LTDNicolas BORIT DRAGAGES HONG KONG LTDHugues BOURGEOIS B2B ASIA LTDJulie BOURGEOIS NESPRESSO - DIVISION OF NESTLE HK LTDOlivier BURING Richard BURTON COFACE HONG KONG BRANCHArnaud CALLENS THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION LTDPaul CLERC-RENAUD FARGO GROUPPierre COPPERE PERNOD RICARD ASIAJean-Baptiste DABADIE ASIAPACK LTD PACKAGING & CO-PACKINGChristophe DEGOIx LVMH - FASHION DIVISION ASIA PACIFICDamien DERNONCOURT JOHN HARDY INTERNATIONAL LTDAnne-Laure DESCOURS Armen EKMEKDJE EKKO (HK) LIMITEDThomas FELD Philippe GRELON VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES HONG KONG LTDGuillaume HALLEUx AIR FRANCE CARGOJacques HATTERER ASIA ONE TECHNICS LTDPatrick Marie HERBET ABACARE GROUP LTDHans-Günther HERRMANN PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISONKin-Lap HO KEYSTONE INVESTMENT (HOLDINGS) LTDMarie-Amélie HOFFMANN LVMH WATCH & JEWELLERY HONG KONG LTDMichel JOSPE METHONG PLASTICS HK LTDHélène KRIEFF NEUMANN PARTNERSPascal LAMBERT SOCIETE GENERALE CORPORATE & INVESTMENT BANKINGEric LECHAUDEL CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANKPaul LEVY CLESTRA LTDEric MAYER THOMAS, MAYER & ASSOCIESPhilippe NEVEU JORDAHL HONG KONG LTDThierry NEVEUx MOULIN ROTY ASIA PACIFICMarie-Hélène PREVOT GOUTEN CONSULTING LTDChristine RAYNAUD THE MRI CHINA GROUPRebecca SILLI GIDE LOYRETTE NOUELJerome STUBERT NOVOTEL CENTURY HONG KONGArnaud de SURVILLE DExTRA PACIFIC LTDNicolas VANDERCHMITT LPA, LEFEVRE PELLETIER & ASSOCIESWenchi WANG AIR FRANCEVicky WONG EPC CONSULTING LTDChristophe WYGAS LVMH ASIA PACIFIC LTDPaul YANG BNP PARIBAS

List on 30 June 2012

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Who’s who at the French Chamber

Committees Banking & Finance Committee President: Pascal LAMBERT (SG CIB) Vice President: Fehreen MAHOMED (CLSA) Business Advisors Committee President: Philippe GRELON (VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES HONG KONG LTD) 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)

Permanent Staff

Executive Director - Maryse KRAATz

Deputy Director, Head of Business Development - Orianne CHENAIN

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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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.

840

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.

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.

Membership categories

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

Our 840 members represent 604 companies in the following categories:

- 43 Sponsor companies representing 144 people

- 251 Corporate companies representing 372 people

- 133 Entrepreneur companies representing 147 people

- 107 Individual members

- 70 Young Professionals

2005/20062003/2004 2006/20072004/2005 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

Sponsor 17%

Corporate 44%

Entrepreneur 18%

Individual 13%

YP 8%

Services 39%

Consumer Goods 16%

Financial 13%

Healthcare 10%

Food & Beverage 8%

Industrial Goods 6%

Technology 5%

Transport & Tourism 3%

Services&Consultants 20%

Advertising/PR/Marketing/Media 16%

Trading 13%

Legal 11%

Education&Training 7%

Furnishing/Architecture/Interior Design 5%

Others 5%

Printing/Publishing/Graphic Design 5%

Property&Real Estate 5%

Sourcing 5%

Human Resources 5%

Quality Control 2%

Translators&Interpreters 1%

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

Predominant sectors are:

- Services

- Consumer Goods

- Financial

- Food & Beverage

- 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.

Membership Categories Sectors of Activity Sectors of Services

17%

44%

18%

13%

8%

39%

16%13%

10%

8%

6%

5%

3%

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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.

Membership’s Profile

Male

Speak French

Female

Don’t speak French

Gender

French speakers

SME

Large Company

Large company VS SME45%

55%

29%

30%

71%

70%

Members Nationality

Company Nationality

French

Hong Kong & China

European

North America

Other

63%

8% 7%2%

20%

41%

22%

28%

3%6%

French

Hong Kong & China

European

North America

Other

500

400

300

200

100

0

250

200

150

100

50

0

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

A multicultural Chamber

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.

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.

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Committees’ activities

banking & FinanceP.21

business advisor GroupP.22

P.26 Green business

ChinaP.23

P.27 Human resources

Editorial P.24

P.28 Infrastructure

Food & beverage GroupP.25

P.32 Sourcing

P.30 Policy & Consultation

P.29 Luxury & retail

SMEP.31

P.33 Women on board

young Professionals &VIP.34

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

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

Meetings

Banking & Finance

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

30 September 2011Banking & Finance working group became a committee

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

2 February 2012Working meeting

7 March 2012Evolving banking regulation with KPMG

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

Compliance Officers Group

21 October 2011Working meeting

8 June 2012Working meeting

Export-Finance Group

6 September 2011Cost of liquidity & pricing: international practices

19 October 2011New strategy of International banks on Export Finance

7 February 2012Bank liquidity update, Trade Finance – recent trend

10 May 2012Event proposal: Korean ECA to talk about their views on changes in Export Finance market in Asia

Technology Group

17 April 2012Creation of new Technology group

24 May 2012Cost control and solutions

26 June 2012Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

Outlook

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

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

Pursue discussions within the Technology group about the following topics:

• Recruitment

• Allocation of resources

• Solution partners and suppliers in Asia

• Regulatory change

• Personal data protection and similar rules

• Trading platform: share experience on consulting or IT realization

• Outsourcing

banking & Finance

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 sub-group, ‘Technology’, adding to the ‘Compliance’ and ‘Export Finance’ ones.

Events

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

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

Sovereign debt woes and their worldwide implications

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Committees’ activities

business advisor Group

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

The BAG offers

• Meetings with professional advisors

• Free advice

• Guaranteed confidentiality

• Constructive criticism

• When possible, business matching with relevant parties

• 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

Actions

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

Events

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

Meetings

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

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.

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.

China

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

Actions

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.

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 2011Farewell drink for Jean-Francois Huchet, CEFC

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

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

16 April 2012What new drivers for the Chinese Economy? The end of the ChongQing Model? with Dr Jacques Gravereau

13 June 2012Networking cocktail with the Chinese Enterprises Association

Meetings

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

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 2012Current payment situation of China, Hong Kong & Taiwan with xavier Farcot, Executive VP, Information & Claims, Asia Pacific, Coface Hong Kong Branch

Outlook

The main themes to be addressed:

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

• 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

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.

New energies and global warming

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Committees’ activities

Editorial

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.

Actions

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.

HKE 64 - Wine and the City HKE 65 - Feeling & Looking Good in HK

Past issues of 2011-2012

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.

Actions

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.

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 …).

Food and beverage

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.

Meetings

16 May 2012Brainstorming session

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.

President & Vice-President: Daniel Schneersohn(Chez Patrick)Jerome Stubert(Novotel Century Hong Kong)

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Committees’ activities

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.

• The EPD has shown its interest on technologies.

Events and Committee meetings

21 September 2011 Working meeting

10 November 2011Working meeting

10 January 2011Working meeting

17 January 2012Green Business networking speed-dating

23 February 2012Hong Kong Trade Development Council: Shopping for green products on the Mainland with Alice Tsang, Economist, HKTDC

23 May 2012Recycling 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 2012Visit to EcoPark, organized the Waste Reduction department of the EPD

28 June 2012 Working meeting

Green business

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.

Lobbying actions

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

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

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

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

• 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.

• 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: Frederic Grivel (Suez Environnement)Charles d’Haussy (Diligent Group Ltd.)

EcoPark

Human resources

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

Actions

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

Events

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.

Meetings

16 September 2011Working meeting

21 October 2011Working meeting

16 December 2011Special 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 2012Special 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 2012Working meeting

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.

Outlook

• Recruitment, talent retention, training, motivation

• 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

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

Leadership in Asia

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Committees’ activities

Infrastructure

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

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’.

Meetings

16 May 2012Brainstorming session

21 June 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.

16 September 2011BIG presentation

23 September 2011 Committee meeting

14 October 2011BIG presentation 19 October 2011BIG presentation

20 October 2011BIG presentation

3 November 2011 Committee meeting

11 November 2011 BIG presentation

21 November 2011BIG presentation

8 December 2011Committee meeting

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.

9 January 2012Committee meeting

11 January 2012BIG presentation

16 January 2012BIG presentation

17 January 2012BIG presentation

18 January 2012BIG presentation

30 January 2012BIG presentation

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

9 May 2012Committee 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.

Luxury & retail

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

Events

The Committee organised the following meetings and events:

12 December 2011Luxury group working meeting

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

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

24 April 2012Event: 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.

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.

Can Social Media be tailored for luxury brands?

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Committees’ activities

Policy & Consultation

President & Vice-President: Thomas Feld (King & Wood Mallesons) Rebecca Silli (Gide Loyrette Nouel)

The committee’s objectives are to:

• 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;

• 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)

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

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

• Maintaining Hong Kong’s Edge

• Attracting and Nurturing Talent: Education in Hong Kong

• Facilitating business and promoting innovation

• Transforming Hong Kong for the Next Generation

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.

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

• Harbour Protection and development

• From Clean to Green: Environment Strategy in Hong Kong

• Major infrastructure projects in need of consequential work force

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

Infrastructure Committee: ‘Hong Kong Land Supply Strategy’

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

Recent Meetings

14 November 2011Brainstorming 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;

• 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;

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

Small and Medium Enterprises

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

The SME Support Centre

The centre has two main objectives

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

• Meet with successful entrepreneurs togain direct and practical advices

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 2011Back to Work - The French Chamber’s First Fall SME Lunch

12 October 2011Relations with Chinese factories

9 November 2011 How insurance works to help business owners thoroughly protect their balance sheet

14 December 2011The Entrepreneurial Stories Gerard Belicha, Red Packet

11 January 2012How to Value one’s SME

8 February 2012Online marketing for SME’s and Mobile Marketing for SMEs

12 March 2012Marketing / Communication for SMEs

18 April 2012The entrepreneurial stories – Jean-Yves Chatté, Monsieur Chatté

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 organisedbefore the D-day (+25 %)

• 60 additional meetings arranged duringthe afternoon (+ 20 %)

9 May 2012The Trade Financing of SMEs

13 June 2012Foreign Pensions for French People and their assets

Events

21 February 2012Building 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 2012Helps 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.

Travailler Ensemble

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Committees’ activities

Sourcing

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

Actions

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.

Meetings

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

HKG and South China market update with Guillaume Halleux, Air France Cargo

14 October 2011Guangdong versus Hong Kong for sourcing offices: Hong Kong or the Guangdong, which one is best? Discussion between members

11 November 2011How to source new products? with Olivier Levy, Dragon Sourcing

9 December 2011Quality control: internal? external? on platform? in factory? with Sandra Ormiston Pointech Industrial Ltd

6 January 2012Christmas dinner open to committee members and their spouses, at the Gingko in Central

16 January 2012RMB Cross Border Trade Settlement: Update and Opportunities with Bruno Francois, BNP Paribas

24 February 2012Engaging our vendors - Sharing and discussing best practices with Valery Cussenot, Kingfisher

The objectives of this committee are to

• 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.

23 March 2012How to improve productivity in Chinese factories with Vincent Chung, Hong Kong Productivity Council

20 April 2012Human resources, discussion between members

18 May 2012How 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

8 June 2012Wrap-up meeting

8 June 2012 eveningYear end drink!

Events

3-4 May 2012One 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 2012Visit 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 ever-changing 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.

Sourcing in Asia, future trends and models

Networking cocktail at Opera Gallery

Committees’ activities

‘Women On board’

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

Actions

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.

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

Meetings

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

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

18 May 2012 Cooperation with the Women’s Foundation ‘The gender gap in pay’

28 May 2012Leadership and Women and non-executive board members with Dominique Heriard-Dubreuil, Remy Cointreau

26 June 2012Cooperation with the Women’s Foundation ‘How to negotiate and increase your salary: tips and practical solutions for women’

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 ties between its members, the group has decided to broaden its activities by launching a successful project, the Women’s Talent Pool (WTP).

Events

11 October 2011Brainstorming session

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

12 January 2012Brainstorming session

19 June 2012Brainstorming session

Outlook

Women’s Talent PoolThe 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 foundationThe WOB committee will help provide both mentors and mentees.

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young Professionals & VI

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

Actions

• Integrate & meet new YP & VI

• Connect & network within the Hong Kong business community

• Share experience in Hong Kong

• Develop the community via events

Events

Cocktails

29 September 2011YP and VI cocktail at Wine Bar

19 January 2012Welcoming drink

22 March 2012Welcoming drink

Roundtables

19 October 2011Generation Y, strengths and issues with Bernard Coulaty, Pernod Ricard

7 February 2012Project management with Vincent Avrillon, Dragages

13 March 2012What does Generation Y want? with Christine Raynaud, The MRI group

24 April 2012The value of events, now and tomorrow with Beatrice Remy, Luminous

17 May 2012Creating, growing and taking over businesses in Greater China with Frederic Guiral, Aigle and Frank Cancelloni, Devanlay

5 July 2012Managing Asian Teams with Marie-Amelie Hoffmann, LVMH Watches & Jewelry

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.

Outlook

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

• 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

YP Cocktail

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Membership Department

Publications Department

recruitment Department

French Chamber’s Departments

P.36

P.41

P.50

P.52

business Development Department

Events DepartmentP.42

Committees DepartmentP.40

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The 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%)

• 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:

INFORM

PROSPECT

SET UP

COMMUNICATION

The department’s strengths:

• A multicultural team

• A business-minded team

• Efficient and reliable

• More than 25 years of experience in Hong Kong

• Independent & private

• A large business network

business Development Department

• 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.

INFORM

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

• 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.

Highlights

• 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

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

Orianne Chenain Deputy General Manager and Head of the Department

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

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

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,

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

• Working visa service

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

business Development Department

PROSPECT

What we do

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

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

Highlights

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

• 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%

• Fashion (men; women, children ; accessories, jewellery) : 11.5%

• Cosmetics/medical products: 9.5%

• 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)

• Organization of 3 missions to promote French regions

• Regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Sud de France

• Accomplishments

• 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,

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

Laura Schouman F&B Manager (in charge of all missions in the F&B area)

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business Development Department

• 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

• More than 110 companies are domiciled at the Chamber

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

• 50 working visas/training/dependent processed and obtained

• 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 twopeople) 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.

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%

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

• Europain : +100%

New fairs promoted:• Bijorhca – Eclat de mode

• Pollutec

• 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.

Relations with local playersThroughout the year, we strived at

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 strengthen our organisation by sectors and skills

• To better communicate the knowhow of the 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 set-up,

- Laura Schouman, F&B Manager (incharge of all missions in the F&B area).

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Committees Department

Catherine Pielawa-Ko Head of Committees & Events

The 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.

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

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

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 (WorkingTogether): an afternoon of business matching between SMEs and large French groups,

• Sourcing in Asia, What Alternatives toChina: a one and a half-day sourcing symposium with keynote industry speakers that gathered 200 participants for its second edition.

Regarding the development of committees:

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

• The New Tech Committee whoseactivities 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 Human Resources committeehas been refurbished with a stronger emphasis on Human Resources activities and gathers mostly members with regional responsibilities,

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

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.

Membership Department

Acting 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.

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.

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.

Achievements:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Francoise Detanger Head of Membership

Julien Hauss Membership Manager

Ammesa ChanCommittees Assistant

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Events Department

Annie Pudlo Events Manager

Vicky Chan Personal Assistant & Event Executive

With 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.

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

• 7 events with InterCham

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

• 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.

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

7 July 2011Banking 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

Kit Juckes, Head of Foreign Exchange Research

Events Department

25 July 2011Intercham

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

Speaker: Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State

18 August 2011HKTDC

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 2011Intercham PRD Committee

MTR Infrastructure Development and Connectivity for Hong Kong & Pearl River Delta

Speaker: T. C. Chew, Projects Director, Hong Kong MTR Corporation Limited

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

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

Global Event, Local Attend!

20 September 2011French Chamber Annual General Meeting

23 September 2011HKTDC

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

27 September 2011Inter 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

Debra Meiburg, wine journalist

David Ketchum, Asia Pacific President, Bite Communications

30 September 2011Banking and Finance Committee of the French Chamber

On the Brink: Exceptional Circumstances, Exceptional Policies

Speaker: Patrick ARTUS, Chief Economist, Natixis

30 September 2011Business Environment Council

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

10 October 2011French Chamber

The Keys to your Successful Integration in Hong Kong

Speakers:Paul Harrison, Phoenix Conservation Ltd.

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 2011Joint 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

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Events Department

20 October 2011Joint event organized with the Dutch Chamber

China Seminar 2020

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

Viviano Villarreal, Architect, Business Manager, OMA Hong Kong

David Lunsford, Hong Kong representative, IETA

Sunny Wong, Group Managing Director of Trinity Ltd

23 October 2011Ocean Conservancy

Global Event, Local Attend: International coastal clean-up 2011 Hong Kong

1 November 2011China Committee of the French Chamber

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

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

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

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 2011Intercham

The Honourable Donald Tsang, Chief Executive, HKSAR

3 November 2011European Chamber and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

Listing of European Companies in Hong Kong

Several speakers

15 November 2011China Overseas Investment Summit

Several speakers

17 November 2011

Joint event with the Italian Chamber

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

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

22 November 2011Business Advisor Committee of the French Chamber

An Introduction to Angel Investment

Speaker: Barry Jones, Principal, Maroon Ventures

23 November 2011Joint event organized with the European Chamber

Europe: Opportunity in Adversity

Speaker: Ben Jones, Analyst, Economist Intelligence Unit

2 December 2011French Chamber

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

Speaker: Orianne Garcia, Author

6 December 2011Joint Event with the European Chamber

Luncheon with Klaus Regling, CEO, EFSF

8 December 2011China Committee of the French Chamber

Can China Save the world? Challenges & risks of the Chinese economy

10 January 2012Luxury & Retail Committee of the French Chamber

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

Speaker:Serge Hoffmann, Partner, Bain & Company

19 January 2012China Committee of the French Chamber

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

Events Department

6 February 2012Joint Event with the Canadian Chamber

Carrie Lam, Secretary for Development, HKSAR

7 February 2012YP Committee of the French Chamber

YP and VI Committee Round Table Series: Project Management

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

17 February 2012French Chamber

Saving Face in China

Speaker: Anne-Laure Monfret, author and journalist

17 February 2012French Chamber

Building an SME Finance Function

Speaker:Barry Jones, Principal, Maroon Ventures22 February 2012Banking & 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 2012Intercham

The Honourable John Tsang, Financial Secretary, HKSAR

28 February 2012Inter 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

1 March 2012French Chamber

India: past performances and future challenges

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

Ross O’Brien, Economist, Corporate Network

7 March 2012Women 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 2012French Chamber

Turning Crisis into Profit: How to Make Money Investing in Property

Speaker: Tim Murphy, Founder and CEO, IP Global

9 March 2012Women 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

13 March 2012YP Committee of the French Chamber

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

Speaker: Christine Raynaud, CEO, the China Group

20 March 2012HR Committee of the French Chamber

Leadership in Asia: Fuelling the Talent Pipe

Speakers: Karen Ferguson, Executive Vice-President, 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 2012Joint event with the European Chamber of Commerce

Workshop Day at the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Several speakers

28 March 2012Joint 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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Events Department

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

China Roundtable Luncheon: Economic Outlook on China

Speaker: Stephen Schwartz, BBVA, Chief Economist

16 April 2012French Chamber

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

Speaker: Dr Jacques Gravereau, President, HEC EURASIA Institute

24 April 2012Luxury Committee of the French Chamber

Can Social Media Be Tailored For Luxury Brands?

Speaker: Thomas Crampton, Asia-Pacific Director, Ogilvy

24 April 2012YP Committee of the French Chamber

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

Speaker: Beatrice Remy, Director of Business Development, Luminous

26 April 2012HR Committee of the French Chamber

Women in workplace: What Matters?

Speaker: Christine Raynaud, CEO, the China Group

4 May 2012Business Environment Council

BEC EnviroSeries Conference: Supporting Organization Invitation

Several Speakers

10 May 2012French Chamber

Permanence Fiscale

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

Agnès Maréchal-Cohen, Taxe and Legal Adviser-Notaire, Lefèvre Pelletier et associés Hong Kong

17 May 2012YP 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

Frank Cancelloni, CEO Asia-Pacific, Devanlay

18 May 2012Joint event with the Women’s Foundation

The Gender Gap in Pay Discussion Panels

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

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, TalentPartners of Talent 2 International

Pattie Walsh, Partner, DLA Piper

25 May 2012Joint 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’)

28 May 2012French Chamber

Leadership and Women as non-executive board members

Speaker: Dominique Heriard Dubreuil, CEO and chairman of the board, Rémy Cointreau

Events Department

28 May 2012South China Morning Post

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

6 June 2012Joint event with German Chamber of Commerce

Shifting political weights and the effects on the Euro crisis

Speaker: Dr Michael Fuchs, MdB, Deutscher Bundestag

7 June 2012Joint event with the Irish Chamber of Commerce

Trends in Recruitment in Asia’: Recruiter Event 2012

Speakers: Mark Meenan, Client Development Manager, Webber Fox

Paul Evans, Managing Director, Gradwell Evans

Derek Kenny, Director, Gulf Connexions Group

Adam Jeffes, Manager, Morgan McKinley

Daniel Cardon, Manager, Robert Walters

8 June 2012Joint event with European Chamber of Commerce

The Euro Area in q2 2012: Taking Stock - Where to Next?

Speaker: Jens Sondergaard, Senior European Economist, Nomura International

14 June 2012HKTDC

How to Optimise Business Operations in China through a Hong Kong Company

Speakers: Thaddaeus Mueller, Associate Director, Fiducia Management Consultants

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

19 June 2012Joint event with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce

In the Trenches: Dispatches from the Shanghai People’s Courts

Speaker: Maarten Roos, founder, R&P China Lawyers, Shanghai

20 June 2012Joint 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

20 June 2012Green Business Committee of the French Chamber

Visit of EcoPark - Hong Kong local recycling industry

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

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

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

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

Large-scale events

15 November 2011MIPIM

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

25 November 2011HKTDC

Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference

28 November 2011BODW

Business of Design Week (BODW) 2011

16-17 January 2012HKTDC

Asian Financial Forum “Asia: Driving Sustainable Growth”

27 March 2012French Chamber

Forum “Travailler Ensemble”

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3-4 May 2012French Chamber

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

17-20 May 2012Art HK

HongKong International Art Fair

1 June 2012French Chamber Gala Dinner

Les Ailes du Desir

21 June 2012Investance Institute

Post-Trade Insider 2012

Networking Events

18 August 2011French Chamber

Joint Cocktail: A European Summer Networking Cocktail!

31 August 2011Intercham

47th Young Professionals Cocktail

Events Department

20 September 2011French Chamber

Annual Dinner: 25

27 September 2011Women On Board Committee of the French Chamber

WOB Botero Cocktail

Speaker: Shirley YABLONSKY, Director, Opera Gallery

10 October 2011French Chamber

French Toast: When Existing Members Meet New Members

9 November 2011Intercham

48th Young Professionals Cocktail

29 November 2011Joint Event with Dutch & Italian Chambers

SME Bluebiz Cocktail Part II

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

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

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

17 January 2012Green Committee of the French Chamber

Green Business Networking Speed-Dating

19 January 2012YP committee of the French Chamber

Cocktail YP & VI: Welcoming drink for the new VI

7 February 2012French Chamber

French toast: Meet the Executive Committee

15 February 2012Intercham

49th Intercham Young Professionals Cocktail

Events Department

14 March 2012French Chamber

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

22 March 2012YP & VI committee of the French Chamber

Cocktail YP & VI: Welcoming drink for the new VI

19 April 2012French Chamber

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

10 May 2012Young Professionals Committee of the French Chamber

Young Professionals Cocktail

29 May 2012Intercham

Intercham 9th Connecting People Cocktail

13 June 2012French Chamber

Cocktail: Meet the Chinese Enterprises Association members

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

Events taking place outside Hong Kong

19-20 September 2011French Chamber in China

Villes d’Avenir: City of the Future Tour – xi’an

17-21 October 2011French Chamber in Taiwan and South Korea

Mission Itinérante: Taïwan - Corée du Sud

April 2012French Chamber in China

China, Cities of the Future 2012 Tour

7 June 2012French Chambers of Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar

Exceptional Business Delegation to Myanmar

15 June 2012Marques

Brand Protection in China and Europe in the 21st Century

28 June 2012French Chamber in China

Villes d’Avenir: City of Future, Chengdu

SME Committee Lunches

14 September 2011Back to Work SME lunch

12 October 2011Relations with Chinese factories

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

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

11 January 2012How to value one’s SME

8 February 2012Online and Mobile Marketing for SMEs

12 March 2012Marketing / Communication for SMEs

18 April 2012The entrepreneurial stories: tips, experience and inspiration to move forward! - Chatté

9 May 2012The Financing of SMEs

13 June 2012Foreign pensions for French people and their assets

Supported charities

23 March 2012Children of the Mekong Fundraising Party

Supported cultural events

22 October 2011The Quartet of Burgundy

MANFRED qUARTET: An exceptional evening in cooperation with two musicians from RTHK quartet

25 & 26 April 2012The Quartet of Bordeaux

Khloros Concert - Odile Perceau

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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.

Events Department

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-Michelin-starred 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,

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

Guest Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet ngor, 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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Publications Department

The department endeavours to inform the Chamber’s 850+ members, and

to offer them visibility through our various printed and online 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.

Achievements

Hong Kong Echo magazine

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 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.

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, co-founder EuroRSCG; Dominique Heriard Dubreuil, CEO Remy Cointreau; James Tien, Chairman Hong Kong Tourism

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.

Julie Pourtois Head of Publications

Sine Choy Publications Manager

Herve Pannecoucke IT Manager

Publications Department

Directory

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.

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 2011-12 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 spin-off 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.

Flash Info

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.

Objectives:

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.

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

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recruitment & Training Department

The Recruitment Department is a professional recruitment consultancy

covering sectors such as Trading/Sourcing, Engineering/Technical and Luxury for clients (members and non-members) in Hong Kong.

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

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.

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

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.

Candidates’ profile

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.

Employers’ profile

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

Candidates’ registration

The department welcomes all 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.

Events and Information

Dolora Angeles Head of the Recruitment & Training Department

Christelle FerrariRecruitment consultant

Aurelie Racine Recruitment consultant

recruitment Department

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.

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.

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.

Objectives

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.

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relations with our Hong Kong and foreign partners

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:

The French Chamber recommendations to the Chief Executive for the 2012-13 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 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 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.

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

Intercham regularly organizes business-matching 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.

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relations with our French partners in Hong KongThe 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 French-speaking 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.

relations with our partners in France

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, auto-financed by its members and its services.

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

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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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%

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%

2011/2012 2010/2011

Income HK$ 23,184,758 HK$ 18,463,115 of which Membership HK$ 4,097,803 HK$ 3,689,120

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

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