Mission Singapore – Kuala Lumpur
In 2015, Singapore celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence. Fifty years have seen the City-State emerging as one of the most vibrant platforms in Asia.
Greater Paris Investment Agency decided to lead for the first time to Singapore, a delegation of decision makers from French member companies, key stakeholders in the Grand Paris project. The goal of the mission (from May 2 to 6 2015, including a stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia): trigger the interest of investors regarding the opportunities at stake in the Grand Paris project and develop partnerships in the realm of innovation and urban management.
With Pierre SIMON and Chiara CORAZZA, President and Director General of Greater Paris Investment Agency, the delegation comprised representatives of CEA, EPADESA, EPA Plaine de France, Freshfields, Orange, Société du Grand Paris, Gecina, Vinci SA, Wilmotte & Associés.
Vivian BALAKRISHNAN, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
H.E. Benjamin DUBERTRET, Ambassador of France to Singapore and Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Vivian BALAKRISHNAN opened the seminar on « Leading technologies for smart and sustainable cities : Singapore and Greater Paris visions and initiatives», an event organised by Greater Paris Investment Agency in partnership with Business France and Vivapolis. Smart city and smart networks issues were discussed with a focus on environnemental issues. Pierre Simon, President of Greater Paris Investment Agency, reminded the audience of the Grand Paris’ assets and pinpointed the excellence of France Capital Region’s talents.
Chiara CORAZZA chaired the round table « Greater Paris is on the Move: new partnership and investment opportunities » to underline the various investment and partnership opportunities available in relation with the Grand Paris project.
Hugues PARANT (EPADESA) highlighted the strong attractiveness of La Défense business district toward international investors: they represent 40% of asset managers and 90% of the amount invested in 2014. In this regard, Bernard MICHEL (GECINA) and José-Michael CHENU (Vinci SA) introduced main development projects in Greater Paris.
Maître Erwan Le DOUCE-BERCOT (Freshfields) recalled the benefits of French tax system for investment in real estate (thanks to the “SIIC” scheme).
Bernard MICHEL and Borina ANDRIEU (Wilmotte & Associés) took part to the workshop “Smart Energy In City and Buildings”. Benoit EYMARD (Orange), Philippe YVIN (Société du Grand Paris) et José-Michael CHENU contributed to the workshop “Smart Transport Systems”.
From left to right; José-Michael CHENU, Bernard MICHEL, Antoine CHERY (French Embassy), Etienne GUYOT and Pierre-Antoine GAILLY
Over the course of this mission, the delegation met with Leong TENG WUI and Sym LEE, Chief Development Officer et Senior Vice President, Strategic Development at The Ascott Limited. Both partners expressed their strong interest regarding the Grand Paris project and in particular the development of hotel residences around main stations or future crossroads in the Grand Paris Express metro network.
The delegation also attended the inauguration of the ESSEC Business School new Asia-Pacific campus, in attendance of Pierre-Antoine GAILLY, Chairman of Paris Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Etienne GUYOT, Director General, and Jean-Michel BLANQUER, Chairman of ESSEC. This whole new campus is located at the heart of Nepal Hill district, a future hub dedicated to education and innovation.
From left to right: José-Michael CHENU, Erwan LE DOUCE-BERCOT, Hugues PARANT
One of the high points of this roadshow to Singapore has been the meeting with MM. Bernard PHANG, Head, Research & Strategic Planning, Real Estate Department and Wai Keong KWOK, Co-Head, Asia/Global Head, Asset Management, Real Estate Department from Singapore’s Sovereign Fund GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corporation).
Philippe YVIN, Chairman of the Société du Grand Paris
Part of the delegation went to Malaysia and met with Amanshah DATUK ZAINAL, CEO of Invest KL to discuss city cooperation.
The delegation also met individually with NAZA Group, a conglomerate involved in automobile, real estate and agribusiness, BNP Paribas Malaysia and Société Générale to discuss the visibility of projects undertaken in the framework of the Grand Paris.
Following a luncheon with H.E. Christophe PENOT, Ambassador of France to Malaysia, delegation members met representatives of KLCC Property Holdings Bhd and Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the greatest Malay pension Fund (5th worldwide).
A workshop was organised by the French Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia to introduce business stakeholders to investment opportunities in Greater Paris.
