Do you use or need innovative IT solutions for your healthcare activities? Are you interested in discovering the latest innovations in software, high-tech devices and a whole range of improvement-enabling solutions? Don’t miss out on the chance to meet with the delegation of French cutting-edge IT companies that will be in Sydney from the 28th to the 30th March. The French Trade Commission in Sydney is proud to host IT Healthcare 2012, an event co-organized with its Singaporean counterpart (which will hold the first part of the event). It is a great opportunity to discuss potential partnerships with French companies looking to find solid business partners able to help them develop their business in Australia. To get the list of the attending companies and make sure you book in your meeting with the relevant solutions providers, please contact us: Pierre DEMEYERE ( pierre.demeyere@ubifrance.fr ).

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38 French farmers from all different regions of France applied for a tour organized by the agricultural French magazine “Réussir”. They’ve come to visit and see how Australia’s agribusiness operates (being a member of the Cairns group)  and understand the international impact of its agriculture and its specific issues and successes. They were greeted to their first “cuppa” (cup of tea) at the Grace Hotel and sat down to a presentation on the agriculture of Australia by Diane Naggar, Senior Trade Adviser at the French Trade Commission Ubifrance in Australia. Despite the fact they had arrived the night before, there were no signs of jetlag and the audience was showing many signs of wonder and interest. They were given key & up-to-date figures, trends and issues that farmers in different parts of this huge continent face on a daily basis, the challenges posed by climatic extremes and the logistics headaches they have to solve. Their main questions concerned the ability of farmers to survive without or with such insignificant government allowances (4% of subsidies in most cases). They were amazed by the success stories despite the drastic droughts and dramatic floods that farmers are dealing with. They also asked quite a few questions about the quarantine restrictions on food products, particularly on raw milk. An hour and a half later, they boarded their bus that would take them from Cowra to Mareeba, visiting vineyards, a sheep farm, beef feedlots, potatoes growers, cane sugar and peanuts farms and a dairy farm. Bon voyage!

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The launch of Free Mobile offer mid-January has shaken the French mobile phone industry to the core. Free Mobile, the mobile division of Iliad, was awarded France’s fourth 3G license in 2009. On the 10th of January, Free Mobile CEO’s Xavier Niel has unveiled his low price strategy. By offering unlimited calls to mobiles in France, USA and Canada, unlimited standard calls in France and in 40 other countries, unlimited SMS in France and 3GB of data for only A$25 per month, the operator has revolutionized the mobile industry in France. Three weeks later, the French MVNOs are already heavily impacted. The French monitoring site Toosurtoo claims that 26 per cent of Free Mobile customers have come from existing MVNOs, with Virgin Mobile being the worst hit by defections. The major mobile operators have also felt the Free Mobiles impact, with Toosurtoo stating that 16 per cent of Frees new customers came from Bouygues Telecom, 22 per cent from SFR and 30 per cent have moved from Orange. With this offer, Free Mobile highlights that its competitors have mislead their customers (67 million mobile subscribers) with high prices. Thanks to Free Mobile, French consumers will enjoy a more competitive market and lower prices.

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France is set to overtake Italy to reclaim its title as the world’s top wine producer this year, according to estimates from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine OIV.L. Helped by favourable weather conditions, France’s production is forecast to rise by 9 percent, correcting a slump last year and allowing it to regain the crown it lost to its southern European neighbour four years ago. The OIV predicts that French production will reach 50 million hectolitres this year, while Italy’s output will fall by 13 percent to 42 million, its lowest in years. In France, an exceptionally warm spring gave some producers a headstart, according to an agriculture ministry report, while Italy was hit by poor weather. French winemakers also said a particularly warm and dry autumn made up for a cold and rainy summer. "There were exceptional conditions in September and October," said Richard Kannemacher, director of marketing for CRINAO, the Alsace committee of wine experts. "There really was an Indian summer." French vintners have suffered several years of bad weather, resulting in abnormally low yields, suggesting this year’s rise was a return to the norm and would not mean lower quality wines. "It didn’t degrade the quality, as these are volumes we’re used to treating," said Stephanie Piot, assistant to the President of the CCVF, a group of wine co-operatives across France. Aside from poorer weather, Italy also lost close to 3 million hectolitres of wine because of vine replantings, which occurred to a lesser extent in France. The OIV estimates that Germany and Austria would see gains of about 30 percent over last year, while Greek and Portuguese production would drop by 17 percent and Spanish by 2. The OIV expects global production to remain stable, despite an overall drop in vineyard surface area. The organisation was uncertain about the direction of wine consumption, which fell in 2008 and 2009 and rose a little in 2010. (Reuters - Reporting By Anna Maria Jakubek, editing by Paul Casciato)

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Straight from the runways of Paris, Ubifrance has the pleasure of showcasing the latest in French design talent at this year’s Fashion Exposed & Preview event.  For the fifth consecutive year, the French Pavilion will host a variety designers offering the latest in men’s and women’s prêts-à-porter, accessories, lingerie and swimwear.  Don’t miss this great opportunity to discover the latest offerings in French textile fashion, and be the first to represent these exciting labels to the Australian market. We invite you to also enjoy the two runway events that will be hosted on the 12th and 13th of February, by the participants in the French Pavilion, followed by a "French" cocktail, BtoB event. For more information please contact the French Trade Commission - Ubifrance in Sydney: Sylvie PATINEC – Senior Trade Advisor        sylvie.patinec@ubifrance.fr Céline DILAURO – Trade Advisor      celine.dilauro@ubifrance.fr Also see : www.fashionexposed.com

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  On the occasion of the Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX), Ubifrance Australia has organized with success the venue of a French delegation. With more than 600 Australian and international suppliers covering over 50000 sqm, AIMEX has been the occasion for these French companies to discover the Australian mining industry. Ubifrance has organized for the French delegation meetings with local companies to explore mutually beneficial business opportunities and exchange technical information. They have all reported interesting opportunities to establish themselves in Australia by investing or finding partners, agents or distributors for their businesses.

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  Are you a master franchisor, or interested by franchising? Are you looking for a successful European franchise?   Don’t miss the chance to meet with a delegation of French leading franchisors coming to Sydney from 24 th to the 26 th of October 2011. Find the franchise you have always been looking for. It is a great opportunity for new business partnerships between you and French companies which are desirous to find a solid business partner able to launch and develop their brand in Australia.   To receive the list of the participants and make sure you book in your meeting with the relevant French franchisor, please contact us: Bertrand GUILLAUMOND ( bertrand.guillaumond@ubifrance.fr )

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