Some of the key personnel who have attended past gatherings include Dr Faisal bin Yaqoub Al Hammar - Minister of Health, Mr Fahmi Al Jawder-Minister of Works, Sh Mohamed Bin Essa Al Khalifa-CE of Economic Development Board, Dr Essam Fakhro - Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gert Rieder - CEO of Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) and Dr Mohammad Al Amer - Chairman of TRA. French businessmen and economists have also graced the meetings including the president of France’s largest union of employers, the Mouvement des Entreprises de France or MEDEF when he visited the island with a delegation on invitation by the French Embassy.

CAFB’s AGM dinner

Date: January 2011
Venue: Golden Tulip Hotel
Guest speaker: Alba’s Chief Executive, Laurent Schmitt

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)’s support for stronger business ties between Bahrain and France as well as increased collaboration between Alba and other French companies was emphasised during a presentation given by Alba’s Chief Executive, Laurent Schmitt at the Bahraini-French Business Club Dinner held on Monday, January 17, 2011 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Bahrain.

CAFB Announces Plans for French Week 2011

The CAFB’s monthly meeting was held on October 18th at the Gilgamesh Hall of the Golden Tulip Hotel. CAFB board member and Chairperson of the French Week Committee 2011, Jean De Tinguy was the evening’s motivational guest speaker on which he spoke on the forthcoming French Week 2011.

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Isa Al-Khalifa, Head of the of Trustees of the Royal Charity Organization and the Vice President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, the French Week 2011 is set to take place on February 23 – March 1, 2011. Organized by the CAFB and the French Embassy, the week long event aims to highlight arts, culture, cuisine and French lifestyle in Bahrain.

Mr de Tinguy also revealed that next year’s French Week will lean more on the business aspect providing a venue for possible business opportunities between French and Bahraini businessmen. The event is envisioned to strengthen business ties between the two countries with the possibility of creating a regional business hub on the island.

Mr. Edward Smith, CAFB Director of Communication said “ From the airport down to the different towns, from the malls to the supermarkets, hotels and other commercial establishments, we plan to maximize exposure and promotions in every way possible. Different activities will be organized simultaneously to ensure that everyone and anyone who’s on the island will know that it is the French Week.”

With all plans laid out, everyone is indeed set for “ Francetastic “ French Week 2011.

CAFB joins the Paris Road Show

Members of the Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB) were invited to participate to the Paris Road Show organized by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) with the main objective to promote Bahrain in France.

President Abdulla Juma, said: “The Road Show proved to be very successful as it was well attended by French and Bahraini businessmen together with senior officials from Bahrain. Since our return from Paris, I have received several messages from representatives of French companies indicating their plans of visiting the island in the near future.”

The event which was held on September 28 and 29 was attended by 12 CAFB members including Mr Juma, Vice President Rodolphe Melki, Jean de Tinguy, Mohamed Salahuddin, Abdul Wahab Al Hawaj, Laurent Schmitt, John Abraham, Ashraf Obeid, Christophe Mariot, Firas Mallah and Tareq Wafa. During their visit, the CAFB members met with leading French businessmen and professionals through the Paris Chamber of Commerce to promote and highlight business opportunities in Bahrain and at the same time to introduce the French Week 2011, organized by the CAFB and the French Embassy under the patronage of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and will be held from February 23 to March 1, 2011.

The delegation also met with members of the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), France’s largest union of employers, and highlighted all the advantages of investing and making business in Bahrain.

Mr Melki said: “Our visit to Paris was very important for our club. We received a lot of favorable enthusiasm and interests about business opportunities in Bahrain. We met senior businessmen and discussed several ideas and projects - not just to set up companies but to make the island a regional hub for French businesses due to its strategic location and business friendliness.

“The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed their surprise in the remarkable participation from French businesses. Nearly 150 companies had participated in the event and met with us. The EDB, the chambers of Commerce of both countries have all decided to continue to work closely to attract more French investors into Bahrain.”

He added that although several French companies in various sectors such as banking, technologies, industry and communications, have already established their business in the Kingdom, the Club is also encouraging others to establish and develop sectors with high potentials in Bahrain such as City Planning, Tourism and Hospitality.

Mr. Melki said: “Bahrain has great potential for Tourism and hospitality. The island has already invested into alternate sources of resources aside from oil such as banking and tourism, but this needs to be further enhanced. We hope that more regional and International exhibitions, conferences and trade shows are planned in the future that will help entice more businesses from one side and more tourists on the other side.”

The club has also rolled up its sleeves to prepare for one of its most significant activities, the French Week 2011.
Mr Melki said: “For the forthcoming event, our top priority will be to highlight France in all aspects with a focus on business. During the French week, we will host a delegation of businessmen from France who will have the opportunity to meet and speak and interact with Bahraini businessmen and exchange ideas, thoughts and create business. We have already started approaching companies and entities at all levels.”

The week-long event is sponsored entirely by French and Bahraini companies and is organized every four years and highlights the art, culture, cuisine and lifestyles of the French community.

CAFB Ramadan Ghabga

Date: September 2010
Venue: Elite Resort Hotel and Spa

In celebration of the holy month of Ramadan, the Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB) organized a ghabga for its members and guests. The affair was held at the Elite Resort Hotel and Spa. Club members and guests were treated to a night of great Arabic cuisine and music.

CAFB’s AGM dinner

Date: June 2010
Guest speaker: Mr. Habib El Habr, Regional Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

The Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB ) held their Annual General Meeting last month following the election of its new Board of Directors. The dinner’s guest speaker was Mr. Habib El Habr, Regional Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) who spoke on “Biodiversity in the Bahrain Area”. Other highlights of the event were the awards recognition for the local media and the recognition of former directors of the organization.

CAFB new board members

Date: June 2010

The Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB) elected its new set of officers on 15th June in a meeting held at the Golden Tulip Hotel. The newly-elected officers are: Abdulla Juma (President), Rodolphe Melki (Vice-President), Waleed Al Rayes (Board Secretary), Philippe Calafat (Treasurer), Adel Fakhro (Director), Betsy Mathieson (Business Development Director), Edward Smith (PR & Media Director), Neman Abdallah (Events Director), Mohammed Al Khaja (Membership Director) and Jean de Tinguy du Pouet (Sponsorship Director).

CAFB Meeting

Date: May 2010
Guest speaker: Mrs. Myrna Fouad Saliba, founder and CEO of ASHE Wellness Consultancy W.L.L.

The Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB) dinner meeting was held at the Golden Tulip, on May 10th, 2010. Motivational guest speaker Mrs. Myrna Fouad Saliba, founder and CEO of ASHE Wellness Consultancy W.L.L., gave a poignant testimony of how helplessness and fear in face of adversity stems from very poor knowledge of oneself, and total unawareness of what personal weapons one can capitalize on to fight misfortune. In her address “Dare to Dream, The Power of a Mind”, Mrs. Saliba told that “our darkest fears and insecurities live in our inner worlds, but so do our unrecognized strengths”. She invited the crowd to dig deep down inside for answers and solutions to their problems; to stay in tune with themselves; to find power from within to conquer themselves; never to cave in to the specters of their insecurities; and never to quit anything they start for “too many people never realized how close they were to success when they bailed out”. Mrs. Saliba emphasized how courage, a dogged will, a passion “anchored on a lifelong love” and deep familiarity with one’s physical and mental strength can help overcome any lifetime impediment. She reckoned “doctors tell us half of the truth, the ugly truth, our ‘medical diagnosis’; they rarely mention the other half of the truth, the nicer half of the truth, ‘our mental strength’ and how that plays an important positive effective role in everything we do including the healing process”. Mrs. Saliba concluded wishing everyone an “enriching, purposeful, positive, passionate, and healthier path in life”. Her advice: “believe in the power of your mind, know your inner self and discover your physical potential, then … with a little bit of passion and a whole lot of determination, everything is within reach.”

CAFB Meeting

Date: April 2010
Venu: Novotel Al Dana Resort
Guest speaker: Mr. Gert Rieder, Chief Executive of Batelco

The Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB) held its monthly dinner meeting at the Novotel Al Dana Resort (El Yacout restaurant) on April 12th. The affair was graced by guest speaker Mr. Gert Rieder, Chief Executive of Batelco. He spoke of Batelco’s projects and plans for the year 2010 and beyond. The event was well-attended by the members of the club and other distinguished guests.

CAFB Meeting

Date: March 2010
Venu: Golden Tulip
Guest speaker: Dr. Esam Fakhro, President of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He spoke on the BCCI

The Bahraini French Busines Club (CAFB), held its monthly dinner meeting at the Golden Tulip Hotel on March 15th. The affair was graced by guest speaker Dr. Esam Fakhro, President of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He spoke on the BCCI and its relation to the Economic Climate in the Kingdom. The event was well-attended by the members of the club and other distinguished guests.

CAFB Meeting

Date: February 2010
Bahrain French Business Club - Luncheon
Guest speaker: Mr. Xavier Denis, Chief Economist of Societe Generale Middle East

The Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB) hosted its monthly lunch meeting at the Golden Tulip Hotel on 4 February 2010. Guest speaker was Mr. Xavier Denis, Chief Economist of Societe Generale Middle East who spoke about the Economic and Financial Forecasts of 2010. The event was attended by top-ranking officials of top companies in the Kingdom as well as businessmen and VIPs.