Michel Miraillet (Ambassador of France to the UAE)
As the French Ambassador to the UAE, Miraillet confesses that he sees himself more like a coach of the French team in the UAE than a diplomat.
By Suchitra Steven Samuel
Published: Fri 27 Nov 2015, 10:49 AM
Last updated: Fri 27 Nov 2015, 12:51 PM
Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France to the UAE, has held several diplomatic posts in different parts of the world. His last posting was as the Director General for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Defence.
As the French Ambassador to the UAE, Miraillet confesses that he sees himself more like a coach of the French team in the UAE than a diplomat. "Since the establishment of the UAE Federation in 1971, our relationship has been based on trust and friendship. The relationship between France and the UAE has progressed exceptionally. Due to the prosperity and stability in this country, more and more French citizens come and live in the UAE," says the ambassador in an interview with Khaleej Times.
Today, the French population in the UAE is estimated to be around 28,000. "Besides the human dimension of our relationship, our bilateral cooperation is very rich and diversified. It has materialised in the fields of culture and education as 'Le Louvre Abu Dhabi', which will soon be inaugurated, or 'La Sorbonne Abu Dhabi', which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in January 2016. We are also partners in a number of projects and initiatives in various sectors such as economy, investment, military, space, training or healthcare," he informs.
"Soon we will launch a campaign aimed at promoting our country's dynamism, which will be called 'Creative France'. I recommend Khaleej Times' readers to stay tuned in the coming months as they will definitely hear about France in the UAE," he adds.
Many joint initiatives between the two countries have already become a reality. Miraillet gives three examples that reflect the exceptional dimension of bilateral relations.
Firstly, Total was chosen in early 2015 for the ADCO concession, reinforcing a 75-year-old strategic partnership for the next 40 years. This decision attests the trust in oil and gas technology developed by the French company.
Secondly, the French Space Agency was among the first to sign an agreement this year with the UAE Space Agency to support UAE's ambition to send its first unmanned mission to Mars by 2021. The President of CNES, Jean-Yves Le Gall, met with his counterparts to assess opportunities for cooperation.
Thirdly, the UAE supports COP 21, which will take place in Paris from November 30. It has been supportive of its continuous commitment to sustainable development. Besides UAE's investments in the field of renewable energy, of which Masdar is the symbol, have been instrumental in spreading the message of Agenda 21 to the world.
High-level visits
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was in Paris in February 2014 where he had a fruitful meeting with the President of France François Hollande.
UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan participated in the march against terrorism in Paris in January 2014. "His presence in traditional Emirati attire in the forefront of the crowd of world leaders was very important for us as a symbol of solidarity with our country against terrorism," recollects the ambassador.
This solidarity has also materialised through regular visits of the French Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is a frequent flyer to the UAE, he adds.
For the last 15 years, France has been Europe's leading destination for foreign investment. "I therefore encourage UAE businesses to invest further in France," points out the ambassador.
As a diversified economy, France offers plenty of opportunities in services and industrial sectors. This includes aerospace, agri-food, chemicals, luxury, hospitality, logistics, communication technologies, healthcare and also digital innovative products. Fifty UAE companies have established businesses in France with leading players such as DP World, IPIC, Mubadala, GEMS, etc. "I strongly believe in the UAE's potential to strengthen its business in France and would like to reiterate to all investors to 'try France and you will adopt it!'" he adds.
Total is the first foreign investor in the oil and gas sector and the main French investor in the UAE. In January 2015, it became the first IOC to be awarded a stake in Abu Dhabi's largest onshore oil fields by ADNOC. Technip chose Abu Dhabi as its MENA headquarters, while GDF Suez, now known as Engie, owns around 45 per cent of the overall electricity production in the UAE. French companies are also investing in many different sectors such as transportation, hospitality, aerospace, defence, health and pharmaceuticals.
The Embassy of France and Business France help build bridges between businesses from the two countries. "Our team meets potential investors, listens to their requirements and provides them with up-to-date information on business opportunities. A customised welcome for investors with investment projects is provided whenever the investors are in France," he says.
"We consider our Emirati experience as exceptional, despite our daily hectic life. We particularly appreciate the values of openness and tolerance held by the UAE leadership and society. Let's say that the dynamism and vitality of this country is a daily incentive to develop a wonderful relationship," Miraillet concludes.
suchitra@khaleejtimes.com
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