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Welcome to the FACC - DC Newsletter
Greetings!
Welcome to the April 2011 edition of the FACC - Washington DC Newsletter. We hope you will enjoy reading about our members' latest developments. Cellhire - a world leader in mobile phone rentals - is featured in the "Small Business Member in the Spotlight" section. Paul Bakery - Cafe comes to Washington, DC. Airbus launches "eGenius" an electric concept aircraft. Astrium GEO-information Services celebrates 25 years of Spot optical earth observation satellites. Areva is setting up a water decontamination process for the Fukushima site. Sanofi-Aventis completes the acquisition of Genzyme. OpenSkies announces free TGV service to 14 French cities. You can find out what's new with all of our Councillor and Corporate members in the right-hand column. Interested in hiring an intern or trainee from France, but have some questions? The FACC Easy Guide below provides helpful information on the J-1 visa. And, we have an article by Joannah Bell of FACC - New York on the Young Professionals Program for Americans interested in working in France. Save the date and mark your calendars for upcoming FACC events. Tomorrow evening, we meet for Family Fun Night at the DC United vs. New York Red Bulls soccer game. Next Thursday, the law firm Williams Mullen hosts a breakfast seminar on Federal contracting. Our partners are also proposing some exciting events: the Rochambeau Gala on April 30, Capital Connection on May 12-13 and the Sodexo Foundation Dinner on June 9.
You may view the 2010 results for foreign direct investment in France and job creation in this issue and a testimonial by yours truly on the FACC Member Travel Center. Finally, here's wishing our members and readers a Happy Easter holiday and joyous Passover festival. Joyeuses fetes de Pacques & Chag Sameach! Carla de Chassy Executive Director
FACC - Washington, DC |
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Upcoming Events
4/21 FACC Family Fun Night Soccer Game at 8 pm
Come cheer on Charlie Davies from DC United or Thierry Henry of the Red Bulls and World Cup Soccer fame . . . or both!
4/28 Update on Doing Business with Uncle Sam, 7:30 - 9:30 am
Join us bright and early on Thursday, April 28th for a seminar on selling to the federal government. Mr. Anthony Anikeeff, Partner in the government contracts practice of Williams Mullen, will provide a high-level review of the playing field in 2011 and beyond. Learn what to expect and how to stay ahead of the game.
Click here for event details and to register. |
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Partner Events
4/30 Rochambeau Gala at the Maison Francaise, Embassy of France
"The Finish Line"
Proceeds from the Gala will go toward the funding and installation of a new track at the French International School - Lycee Rochambeau.
Click here for event details and to RSVP.
5/12 & 5/13 Capital Connection by the Mid Atlantic Venture Association
Capital Connection is the annual "big tent" event of the Mid Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA). Capital Connection attracts more than 800 CXOs, entrepreneurs and investors from throughout the United States each year who all share the same objective of building and investing in the most promising high growth companies.
Click here for event details and to register.
FACC members enjoy a $95 discount when registering before May 1st.
6/9 Sodexo Foundation Dinner
12th Annual Sodexo Foundation Dinner
"Celebrating Heroes of Everyday Life"
Proceeds go to the work of the Sodexo Foundation in the fight to end childhood hunger.
Click here for event details and to register.
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| Recent Events
4/4 International Tax Seminar at The Jefferson
Dale Mason, International Tax Director with The Wolf Group provided participants with an eye-opening look into the workings of the IRS with regards to income and assets held by foreign nationals living in the United States.
Peppered with humoristic cartoons and real-life examples, Dale's presentation covered worldwide income tax reporting, the FBAR form and penalties for failure to file, the Exit Tax and U.S. tax traps and planning opportunities. |
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New & Renewing Members
Carlos Silva |
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France is 4th best location around the globe for foreign investment and 1st in Europe
With US$57.4 billion of FDI inflows, according to the most recent estimates by UNCTAD, France is thought to be the fourth leading recipient of FDI flows in the world in 2010, after the U.S, China, and Hong Kong. As such, France remained the leading destination for FDI in Europe, according to the 2010 report by Invest in France Agency released earlier this month. The report, entitled, "Job-Creating Foreign Investment in France" presents an analysis of confi rmed projects, illustrating the contribution made by foreign investment to France's economy.
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PAUL Bakery- Caf� comes to DC
PAUL Bakery- Caf�, known as Boulangeries PAUL in France, is a 120 yr. old upscale authentic French bakery. PAUL will be opening its US Flagship bakery here in our Nation's Capital on Monday, May 2nd in the Penn Quarter neighborhood. PAUL will be located in one of DC's most prime retail/restaurant locations: 801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, with its front doors opening onto the plaza of the US Navy War Memorial, and directly across from The National Archives.
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OpenSkies Introduces FREE First Class train connection service to 14 cities throughout France!
Fourteen cities throughout France are now accessible from New York and Washington D.C. for passengers flying from these citis to Paris on OpenSkies. Clients can book the combo Flight + Train offered by OpenSkies in partnership with tgvair by SNCF and discover a new way to travel with more flexibility, options and savings than ever before!
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FACC Easy Guide to the J-1 Visa - Part III
In cooperation with Eliot Norman of Williams Mullen's International Practice, the FACC has created an Easy Guide of FAQs for member companies interested in recruiting French interns and trainees. This third installment addresses the next steps once the Training Plan form has been filled out, the required wage rate, extending an internship or traineeship, and bringing an an intern or trainee back to work for your company in the U.S. Click here to read the FACC Easy Guide - Part III. |
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Small Business Member in the Spotlight:
Steven Douglas, Cellhire USA LLC
 "Cellhire's strategy continues to be a one-stop shop for all of your global wireless needs. Our clients come from all business verticals. There is a great likelihood that we have provided our solutions to every member of the Fortune 1000. Our solutions and services include voice, data and satellite transmissions. Our customers rent sim cards for their own devices, mobile hotspots for use with Wi-Fi capable devices; mobile devices from GSM Handsets to USB/MiFi to BlackBerry to iPhones and Satellite terminals." Click here to read full interview with Steven Douglas.
Click here to take advantage of Cellhire's special offer for FACC members. |
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My Experience with the FACC Member Travel Center
by Carla de Chassy Executive Director FACC - Washington, DC
Last week, I had to book a series of domestic flights for travel in May and had been putting it off for quite some time. My itinerary was rather complex as I needed to coordinate with a member of my family with a different originating airport, schedule and affinity programs. Running out of time, I decided to take advantage of the FACC Member Travel Center and called the Omega Corporate Travel office in Buffalo get the trip booked.
It was worth it! Omega Travel Counselor Christine Hall immediately understood my travel plans, was able to find alternative itineraries within my budget, and integrate additional parameters as we moved seamlessly through the booking process. She was fast, professional and a pleasure to work with. For a small fee of $32, I was able to save a lot of time, money and headache. I look forward to calling Omega the next time I need to book!
The FACC Member Travel Center is managed by Omega World Travel, the 3rd largest travel management company in the United States and operated by NuTravel, a company providing best-in-class corporate booking tools and travel management services. The Travel Center offers agent-assisted travel service and a password-secured online booking tool http://facc.nutravel.com. Both agent-assisted and online bookings provide access to air, hotel and car for reduced, all-inclusive fees. An emergency, after-hours service is also available. |
FACC Young Professional Program for Americans
FACC visa sponsorship services include The Young Professional Program for Americans who wish to gain professional experience in France. Through the FACC's partnership with L'Office de l'Immigration et de l'Int�gration (OFII), the FACC sponsors training visas for Americans between the ages of 18 and 35 to work in France for up to 18 months. Once the American candidate has secured a position within a French host company, the FACC New York chapter will provide the visa application materials, and sponsor the candidate's visa free of charge. In order to further encourage French companies to hire qualified Americans, the visa administrative process has been simplified; the young professional visa takes an average of 2 months to secure.
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Carla de Chassy
Executive Director
French-American Chamber of Commerce
Washington, DC Chapter
1200 G Street, NW - Suite 800
202-640-1806 T - 202-558-5295 F
carla.dechassy@faccwdc.org - www.faccwdc.org |
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