Part three: CCI International Rhône-Alpes

“Export capacity is better in the Rhône-Alpes than elsewhere,” announces Jean-Paul Mauduy, President of the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CRCI) Rhône-Alpes, citing the structural trade surplus of 6.9 billion euros (2007) and the “density of grey matter” in the region. Christine Godet, adviser for foreign trade (regional delegation), confirms these satisfactory results that make the Rhône-Alpes into the second most important exporting region in France with 11.7% of national exports. “The territory holds a significant number of companies – large groups and SMEs of all sizes – that are ready to export. On top of this, the Conseil Régional (Regional Council) has made export into an economic priority: it is sparing no effort to establish productive programmes and partnerships (the annual global budget allotted to the international arena comes to 50 million euros, editorial note). Finally, all operators have grasped the interests of working together. This is why companies are better armed for dealing with the international spectrum,” sums up Christine Godet. The Medef (French Business Confederation), CGPME (syndicate of SMEs), Coface (French export credit agency), Ubifrance (French agency for international development), OSCI (federations of private operators in international trade), the Conseil Régional, local authorities, CCIs… On days organised for advice to be offered to exporters, “all of the organisations come and get involved, each offering its own specialities.”Jean-Paul Mauduy and Jean-Jack Queyranne, President of the Conseil Régional, signed, in June, a partnership agreement which includes reinforced collaboration between the ERAI(1) asso-ciation and the Chamber network. “A CRCI President is apolitical, he owes it to himself to speak with all of the elected representatives of the Republic. I know no other recipe for success,” considers Jean-Paul Mauduy.  His vision seems to be shared by the region. “The Assises de l’International held in Lyon in March 2008 and drawing together all international players in the Rhône-Alpes result from a new awareness and the beginning of a new mode of functioning between the different operators,” states Jean Besson, Vice President of the Conseil Régional, representative for European Affairs and International Relations. “Personally, I attach great importance to relationships with the Chamber world. As proof, I can mention my excellent long-term relationships (notably as a senator) with the CCIs of Rhône-Alpes and offer them 3.2 million euros in financing every year.” Last month, it was with Ubifrance that the Chamber made official a collaboration that was already underway, in order to “identify and accompany 1,018 new exporters over a three-year period”.“The CRCIs are more recognised by the State and the territorial institutions, for in Europe, economic development takes a regional dimension. It is up to them to seize this opportunity to put an end to a mere representative role, to offer solutions and to defend entrepreneurs. We moreover intend to establish a Chamber bureau in Brussels, alongside the bureau for the Rhône-Alpes region, in partnership with the Chambers of Commerce of the Piedmont,” states Jean-Paul Mauduy.  The President is also considering the creation of an “International House, if possible on the premises of the CRCI in Lyon,” in which all players may be represented. For despite progress, “the Rhône-Alpes forces in the international sphere remain dispersed.”Bouncing off the dynamic in favour of international activity in the territory, the CCI International Rhône-Alpes is one out of a number of networks available to companies. Created in 1994 by the CRCI, it is made up of, on top of the twelve local Chambers(2), the Medef, the CGPME and consultants in foreign trade and the promotion of agro-alimentary products. In 2007, consultants accompanied 6,000 budding exporters, capitalising on the strength of their close relationships with 15 competitiveness poles and numerous business groupings found in the region. Therefore, “the CCI of Ain is the privileged interlocutor of the Plastipolis(3) pole for its international activities,” explains Michel Beyet, Deputy Manager of the CCI International.Overseas, the Rhône-Alpes Chambers intend to reinforce constructive partnerships, including associations with the private network of French CCIs abroad (CCIFE). The single counter offered to companies by the Franco-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce “today constitutes a model,” according to Guy Mathiolon. The CCIFE houses a repre-sentative of the CCI of Lyon and the Vietnamese branch of the ERAI.
(1) The Entreprise Rhône-Alpes International (ERAI), created in 1987, counts 16 overseas branches. It receives 4.7 million euros in funding from the region.(2) Ain, Northern Ardèche, Southern Ardèche, Drôme, Grenoble, Haute-Savoie, Lyon, Northern Isère, Roannais, Saint-Etienne – Monbrison, Savoie, Villefranche – Beaujolais.(3) Plastipolis, a competitiveness pole in the plastics sector based in the department of Ain,  covers the Rhône-Alpes and Franche-Comté regions. www.plastipolis.fr.