Paris, 11 March, 2010 – Pierre Guénant and Patrick Gounelle, Co-Chairmen of the Europe+ Foundation, which organizes the World Investment Conference (WIC), announce this morning the highlights of this 8th consecutive edition to be held on June 2-4, 2010 in La Baule, France.

The central theme of the WIC 2010 will allow global leaders in business, government, technology, finance and academia to debate on the new models for Europe’s attractiveness in a changing world with the objective to present concrete solutions for more rigorous and sustainable economic growth.

“The 2010 edition of the WIC takes place at a critical moment. Indeed, the shock of the economic crisis has already called into question growth models that were considered the norm two years ago. Governments are now regaining the initiative, not only as an authority in the regulation of the markets, but more particularly as an entrepreneur, an initiator of major structural projects. Europe must confront the challenge of relaunching growth, while preserving its social model,” declared Pierre Guénant, Co-Chairman of the Europe+ Foundation.

“Europe should redefine its economic, industrial and social model in the context of a reset of the world economy and intensify dialog with the other world economic powers,” commented Patrick Gounelle, Co-Chairman of the Europe+ Foundation.

In 2010, the World Investment Conference, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, is committed to advancing the ideas and experiences to be shared by investors and entrepreneurs in order to drive proposals for concrete and pragmatic solutions.

What investment opportunities does the European model offer? Which sectors and activities does it relate to? What are the core value-adds of Europe? How can Europe’s attractiveness render its fundamental assets even more competitive, while developing tomorrow’s technologies?

These questions will be addressed through panels, speeches and collaborative workshops to be organized around the following core topics:

• Government as an entrepreneur
• Changing patterns of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
• Infrastructure: Empowering Economic Growth
• Sustainable health: Is Europe’s health model a global business model?
• Harmonization, regulation and transparency: Is Europe’s business model really predictable?
• European Innovation Ecosystem
• Clean-techs: Can early awareness turn into business?

Ernst & Young will publish its highly expected annual survey on European Attractiveness at the World Investment Conference in La Baule, France. This year, the report will reveal investors’ answers on how they see Europe emerging from the crisis as competition among countries, regions and cities changes, along with foreign direct investment (FDI) patterns. It will also put forward participants’ responses regarding post-crisis opportunities and growth sectors.

WIC: What is new in 2010?
High-level participants, including CEOs and managers of European and international start-ups, but also European and international political decision-makers, will participate in this 8th edition of the WIC.

Herman Van Rompuy – President of the European Council, will participate in the Opening Debate of the Conference, along with Raya Haffar – Minister of Finance of Lebanon, Jianqing Jiang – Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Didier Reynders – Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Belgium.
Numerous personalities will comment the results of the Ernst & Young Attractiveness survey, amongst whom James S. Turley – Chairman & CEO of Ernst & Young global, Ben Verwaayen – President of Alcatel Lucent, Philippe Mellier – President of Alstom Transport and David Appia – President of the Invest in France Agency.

European and international CEOs will share their vision of Europe’s economic model in the context of roundtables dedicated to the WIC 2010 core topics, amongst whom Gilles Michel – Managing Director of the French Strategic Investment Fund (FSI), Philippe Carli – CEO of Siemens France, Clara Gaymard – President of GE France, John Vassallo – Vice-President, EU Affairs of Microsoft,…
The closing of La Baule-WIC 2010, in the presence of Michel Barnier – European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, will put forward the results of each and every Conference debate, along with the recommendations to political leaders to improve Europe’s attractiveness.
Emerging countries will also be honored as numerous delegations from the BRIC region are expected at La Baule and will contribute to confronting the needs of these new investor countries with the European proposals.

Since 2003, the World Investment Conference (WIC) is the only European conference focused on technology, business, investments and policies to stimulate global economic growth. Hosted by the Europe+ Foundation and co-founded by PGA and Ernst & Young, the WIC brings together annually through an exclusive high-level platform global business and political leaders with the objective to forge partnerships, attract investment, influence trends, share best practices and spur innovation and trade.

Full information on WIC 2010 conference including agenda, exhibitor information and registration is available at www.labaulewic.org

Press Contact
Vilizara Lazarova
Tel: +33 (0)1 57 32 86 46
Email: vilizara.lazarova@consultants.publicis.fr

Géraldine Igou
Tel: +33 (0)1 57 32 85 90
Email: geraldine.igou@consultants.publicis.fr

The central theme of the 8th WIC – “Europe’s attractiveness in a changing world” – will inspire presentations and provoke debates about Europe and its economic model (locations, sectors, investments, talents,…) compared to other regions of the world.

Save the date!

Conference agenda coming soon

Mrs Anne-Marie Idrac, French Minister for Foreign Trade from Europe Plus on Vimeo.

Mrs Connie Hedgaard, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy from Europe Plus on Vimeo.

Download French version

Slideshow : http://video.labaulewic.org/photos/

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• This is the first of a series of joint actions aimed at disseminating South America as a destination for foreign investment under the slogan “Why South America”

The investment promotion agencies of the South American countries will present, for the first time, an integrated action to attract investment to South America. It will be during the World Investment Conference in La Baule, in France, June 3 to 5. The event will bring together about 800 people, including ministers of state, governors, mayors, parliamentarians, ambassadors and company executives of European countries.

This action is being organized by the President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), Alessandro Teixeira, also president of the The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador will take part in the conference. “We want to work together to maximize the possibilities of attracting investment to the region, as well as to reduce costs and bureaucracy, offering integrated solutions to foreign investors”, says Teixeira.

Program

The Conference of La Baule is held annually by the Europe+ Foundation, in partnership with the European Commission. This year’s theme is “Investing in Global Cities: Opportunities in Adversity.” In addition to a booth where will be a group of South American representatives to promote South American agencies, the program includes the workshop ” South America as a Key Destination for Foreign Investments,” that will have the participation of the President of Waipa and Apex-Brasil , Alessandro Teixeira, and the President of Prosperar (Argentina,) Beatriz Nofal, director of WAIPA to South America.

Publication

There will be a gala dinner with the menu and the decoration dedicated to South America and the distribution of the publication Why South America, signed by 10 countries – Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. WAIPA (World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies) will also have a booth at the event and the president Alessandro Teixeira will award the “WAIPA Personality Award for the Contribution to the Development of the Global Investment Framework” to the Minister of the Economy of France, Christine Lagarde.

For more information: Apex-Brasil Press Office – (61) 3426-0202 – lilian.leao@apexbrasil.com.br