A high-level Bahrain delegation led by the Economic Development Board (EDB) is in France to showcase the excellent investment opportunities in the Kingdom.

The delegation comprising key businessmen representing Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) attended a key seminar hosted by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Bahrain's business environment was the focus of the event held in the French capital.

The team is in France as part of a tour to Europe until November 24 to strengthen relations between businessmen from both countries and promote investment.

Participating in the seminar from Bahrain were BCCI chairman Dr Essam Fakhro and Bahrain Fibre Glass International managing director Dr Samer Al Jishi.

From the French side, Norton Rose partner Joanne Emerson Taqi, French Embassy in Bahrain counsellor commercial FrŽdŽric Mettetal, Technal general manager Jean Marc Luvisutto and Unanime partner Didier Garcin took part.

The first part of the seminar discussed political and macroeconomic issues related to Bahrain, while the second part focused on the issue of doing business in Bahrain.

The participants in the seminar shed light on the political and economic situation in Bahrain and how the kingdom dealt with various challenges, elaborating more on the flexible policies which helped avoiding any economic obstacles.

The Bahraini businessmen were also offered the opportunity to hold one-on-one meetings with their French counterparts to examine any investment opportunities in both countries and exchange information and experiences.

At a gala dinner hosted by the Automobile Club de France, EDB chief executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa said he found serious interest amongst French businessmen to meet the delegation and discuss with its members the co-operation opportunities.

Dr Fakhro also spoke to the gathering, and said Bahrain hosts a number of big French companies like BNP Paribas.

During the ceremony, the EDB launched a new international placement programme to provide young Bahrainis with the opportunity to become immersed in a new language and culture while providing practical, long-term work experience in one of Bahrain's key trading partners in Bahrain-based French firms.

The elected participants of this programme will be trained for the first five months to learn the local language before joining one of the partners in this initiative.

The objective of the programme will be for candidates to gain necessary expertise and skills to take on challenging positions within the companies' Bahrain operations on their return to the kingdom.

To date GSE, Groupe-6, Unanime and Technal of France, and Hochtief, RMA and BASF of Germany have signed up for the programme.

'Bahrain is proud of the investment it made into education and training.

'Bahrain has always been known for its educated and highly-skilled manpower who help run local and international companies from Bahrain,' he said.

'There is always, however, a requirement to take these levels to new highs - and this programme will cut short the path for talented Bahrainis to the future with the help of our international partners who base their businesses in Bahrain,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service