French pavilion at CeBIT 2008
Dear CeBIT 2008 visitors and participants,
At the start of the Franco-German year of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), France’s participation in CeBIT 2008 as Partner Country illustrates the new dynamics of the countries and their professional organisations on the international markets in terms of innovation and competitiveness.
France’s industrial capacity and the quality of its training courses for engineers and technicians must enable the French players to confront their main global competitors in a sector that is a key area for its contribution to growth and job creation.
In a chaotic and globalised economic environment, the Information and Communication Technologies sector’s strategic importance in the development of our modern companies is increasing all the time. The French Government wishes stand alongside its technology companies and support their process of opening up to the World. They possess many advantages for this and I rejoice in the fact that in the National Pavilions – an area of nearly 1,100 m˛ - there are more than a hundred companies, from very small to the most powerful, from all the regions of France. I invite you to come and discover them.
This 22nd staging of the largest show worldwide for the ICT sector will also be marked by the 1st Franco-German ICT summit, launched at the initiative of the ICT sector’s two leading professional associations in France (Syntec Informatique) and Germany (Bitkom) and supported by the governments of both countries. This Franco-German partnership in the European context is aimed at creating an environment favourable to developing business, dealing with issues common to the profession, sharing best practices and developing innovative uses, and also to facilitate SMEs’ access to a large near-by market.
It is therefore with great pleasure that we provide the official catalogue of the French participation in CeBIT 2008, showcasing French expertise in particular.
I wish you many fruitful meetings and I am pleased that you are taking part in this major global meeting-place for Information and Communication Technologies.
Hervé NOVELLI, Secretary of State for Business and Foreign Trade.