A TOUCH of France 2006, a trade show and cultural showcase, was launched at the French Embassy in St. Andrew on Tuesday morning. The three-day exhibition is slated
to return to the Hilton
Kingston hotel on Saturday, March 18, and ends on Monday, March 20.
The exhibition features a range of products and services that connect Jamaica, France and the French departments in the Caribbean, namely, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Last year the delegation from Guadeloupe was thwarted by Air Jamaica's withdrawal of flights, but another batch is slated for this year. The event displays products from the automotive industry, construction, cosmetics and perfumes, and this year pharmaceuticals will be added.
EXHIBITION'S EFFECTIVENESS
Pierre Lemaire, assistant to the president of the Alliance Française, and Karlene Lemaire, assistant to the trade commissioner, both pointed to the exhibition's effectiveness in promoting business between France, its departments and Jamaica. Pierre Lemaire noted that though the exhibition began as a bet to see whether a trade fair and a cultural exhibition could be combined, it had proved quite successful.
Karlene Lemaire noted that evidence of this stimulation of trade comes in the form of a security contract and another in bamboo, both of which were initiated at the Touch of France. Furthermore, she noted that in keeping with the wish to continue to develop, the Agence Francaise de Development (the French Development Agency) will be introduced as a part of A Touch of France 2006. Mrs. Lemaire noted that the agency funds both government and private projects. The bank will be introduced on the final day of the exhibition at 8:30 a.m.
STRONG CULTURAL ELEMENT
The cultural element of A Touch of France remains strong. The French gastronomic fare 'Haute Cuisine' via the Hilton's Palm Court restaurant returns. It begins on March 17 and continues through to March 25. Additionally, Chef Phillippe Moulin of Cordon Bleu Mexico will provide A Taste of France through cooking demonstrations of a savoury dish on Sunday at 4:30, and a dessert at 5:00 p.m. on Monday.
French food sampling will also take place between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. The 1876 Wines brand also makes the return trip and will take audiences through another instalment of 'Wine Discovery'.
FASHION SHOW
Sunday night closes with 'La Hot Couture', a fashion show featuring fashions by Elietter Lesuperbe, Cathia Coppry and N'Djamena Caprice of Guadeloupe worn by Saint International models. The
fashion show will take place at the Hilton's poolside.
A Touch of France 2006 closes with The Christian Laviso Quartet from Guadeloupe and Jamaica's Maurice Gordon Trio, who will offer up a taste of jazz. All events of the trade show and cultural exhibition are free and open to the public.
T.B.-S.
TAKEN FROM THE FRIDAY GLEANER, MARCH 10, 2006
