Скачать или смотреть Trade show in France showcases Algerian businesses and products

(17 May 2015) LEAD-IN:
Links between Algeria and France are being highlighted at a trade show dedicated to promoting business between the two countries.
It's the first time a fair dedicated to the North African country has been held in France and the host city is home to a large group of expatriates.

STORY-LINE:
About a fifth of the population of Marseille, or about 200,000 people, are Algerian.
For Nazim Sini, that means it's an ideal location for an event with two aims; to promote Algerian businesses abroad and to celebrate the achievements of the Algerian diaspora in France.
"They are people established in Marseille, and who have skills, a competence, an expertise, this is what we wanted to highlight," he says.
Sini came to France as a student and he never went back.
He says Algerians living overseas represent a lucrative market for Algerian businesses.
"Because they have to understand that this diaspora travels 3 or 4 times a year to Algeria and represent a pool of clients that is huge."
Sini is one of the organisers of the trade fair and says the idea began to form five years ago.
70 exhibitors are under one roof here, 60 percent are from Algeria and the rest are from France.
Two architecture companies are among the French businesses sharing a stand.
Henry Roussel is eyeing Algeria as a place to do more business.
"People are eager for openings. That's why this trade show is the occasion for us to try to develop partnerships," he says.
A couple of stands away, a Marseille dress show owner, Nadia Rebiai is showing her wares to a visitor.
She set up business in Marseille, selling traditional Algerian dresses, about eight years ago.
While France is now her home, she can see a future selling her products in Algeria.
"I'm going to try to integrate the best way here in the Marseille region and in the city of Marseille, and then eventually, try to make my company known in Algeria. In my country," Rebaiai says.
Most of the businesses at the fair have come from the other side of the Mediterranean.
From banks to travel agencies, they've come to build partnerships and to convince people that Algeria can be a prosperous land to do business.
It's a view that's not always represented in the media, according to Fethi Laidouci, the general manager of communications company, Fl-com.
His company specialises in advertising at railway stations.
"(We want) to say that it is going really well there," he says.
"It is a real kind of El Dorado for foreign investors, and that people should come and invest in Algeria."
That's a view supported by Didier Coppi who's from Buro-Club, a company involved in renting office space overseas.
The company was established in 1992, but two years ago they started operating in Algeria, now they're establishing offices there for 3 to 4 businesses a month.
"Succeeding in Algiers as we are doing, gives us experience. It is a link, a boulevard also for those who want to implant in all of Africa."
The trade show runs from 15 May to 17 May in Marseille.

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