On Thursday 8^th May 2008 Tradepoint South Africa Durban had the pleasure of meeting with the Ambassador of France to South Africa, His Excellency, Mr Denis Pietton. This meeting was of particular importance as through the efforts of our Nantes University student, Aurelien Rabille, Tradepoint SA Durban is facilitating an inbound mission of French companies to Durban through the office of the French Trade Commissioner, Mr Yves de Ricaud based in Johannesburg.

The City of Nantes and the eThekwini Municipality are sister cities and this will further strengthen trade opportunities between our two regions. The sectors to be promoted will be Agro-processing and Arts & Craft. A further point under discussion with His Excellency, Mr Pietton was the establishment of a relationship between Tradepoint South Africa Durban and the emerging Trade Point in Lyon, France, currently based at the World Trade Centre. Other areas of collaboration would be participation in trade exhibitions in France and KwaZulu-Natal. As a gesture of goodwill to His Excellency a traditional Amaquthu basket made in KwaHlabisa was presented to Mr Pietton.

Caption: His Excellency Mr Denis Pietton, Aurelien Rabille , exchange student from Nantes and Monique Labat, Tradepoint South Africa Durban, GM