AIR FRANCE and UBIFRANCE announce partnership to support small and medium-sized firms in their export formalities

AIR FRANCE and UBIFRANCE are announcing the signature of a partnership agreement to combine their efforts and to support SMEs in the promotion of their technological and industrial expertise.

This cooperation should lead to the potential development of synergies between the UBIFRANCE and AIR FRANCE networks in the French regions with a view to contributing to the growth of foreign trade in France, which ranks 5th worldwide for exports.

«The new partnership will enable French SMEs to benefit from AIR FRANCE’s wide range of business fares to develop their foreign markets, either through preferential rates, the corporate loyalty program or dedicated services» declared Soline de Montrémy, Vice President Operational Marketing France at AIR FRANCE.

«Thanks to this agreement, AIR FRANCE will be joining the French Export Team. UBIFRANCE is delighted to be able to offer exporting SMEs a comprehensive range of services for its 500 operations organized each year worldwide, and to support them as efficiently as possible in their canvassing for business, promotion and establishment » concluded Christophe Lecourtier, CEO of UBIFRANCE at the «Planète PME» trade fair.

About AIR FRANCE:

AIR FRANCE operates 1,700 daily flights with a fleet of 255 aircraft, plus 134 regional aircraft operated by its subsidiaries Brit Air, CityJet and Régional. AIR FRANCE and KLM together gave birth to Europe’s leading air transport group in May 2004. Both airlines now offer their customers a combined network, which includes a total of 248 destinations worldwide. AIR FRANCE is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with worldwide destinations, flights and services.

About UBIFRANCE:

UBIFRANCE, the French Agency for international business development, is an industrial and commercial government body under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade and the Treasury and Economic Policy Division. UBIFRANCE now has its own network of contributors in France and worldwide: 6 inter-regional UBIFRANCE divisions in France, local partners of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry contribute to mobilizing businesses with an export potential. 15 integrated economic missions present in 8 countries: Germany, Canada, UAE, Spain, United States, Italy, United Kingdom, Turkey, supporting locally-based firms. By 2010, 64 economic missions in 44 countries will join UBIFRANCE, i.e. over 1,200 multi-cultural contributors dedicated to supporting SMEs in their development on foreign markets.

www.ubifrance.fr