French rail expertise on track at Innotrans 2010

Innotrans, which will take place in Berlin (Germany) in September 2010, is a unique combination of a trade show, a business convention and an outdoor exhibition. The trade fair attracts an increasing number of visitors each time it is held – in 2008, the event attracted over 80,000 visitors and 1,900 exhibitors, half of whom came from 41 countries. In 2010, nearly 80 companies will be present on the French Pavilion, which will be divided between two specialised halls.

In order to support the participating French companies in their export strategy, UBIFRANCE will also be organising the International Meetings for Rail and Urban Transport during the trade show. This event will allow French companies to keep themselves up to date about opportunities on export markets and meet global rail operators.

Many of the French companies are taking part with the support of two regional clusters – Northern France Rail, the leading cluster for the French railway industry, and Neopolia Rail Cluster, the rail segment of the Atlantic industrial cluster. There will also be companies taking part independently, representing all sectors of rail and urban transport, including electronic equipment, ticketing, infrastructure, maintenance and tramways.

The International Meetings for Rail and Urban Transport, which will take place on 22 and 23 September on the French Pavilion, will give participating companies an opportunity to meet rail-sector experts from the UBIFRANCE international network of French Trade Commissions at B2B meetings and multi-country information workshops. The event will offer participants an effective way to keep up to date with market opportunities and local business set-up methods, as well as developing partnerships and discovering new business trends.

The representatives of the 16 French Trade Commissions will organise a guided tour of the French Pavilion for decision-makers from their respective countries who are exhibiting at (or attending) the trade show. There will also be a cocktail party held at the French Embassy during the trade fair, which will be sponsored by Colas Rail, Corus Rail, Corys-Tess and Leroy Automation.

Despite the current economic climate, French companies in the rail sector continue to report good results. Concerns linked to energy and climate-change issues are encouraging the development of public transport, and there is keen interest in high-speed railway lines. Tramways are staging a comeback in urban areas, while regional express trains are increasingly popular.

The French rail industry generated total sales of €4.01 billion in 2008 (including €1.08 billion in exports) and employs a workforce of 16,000. The sector’s sales have more than doubled over the past 12 years (€1.74 billion in 1996).