It's still full steam ahead for French Rail at InnoTrans 2016

LONDON - June 29, 2016 - PRLog -- Business France, the French national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, is organising France's iconic pavilion at the InnoTrans Fair, an international trade show for the rail industry. Of the 95 French companies exhibiting and showcasing their products, services and expertise, nearly 30% are new exhibitors. Many of them will be accompanied by their cluster or region; they will be exhibiting on the three French Pavilions which are located in Halls 3.2, 11.2 and 26b, spread over a total floor space of more than 18,000sq ft. Furthermore, nearly 90 other companies will strengthen the French presence at InnoTrans with their own stands.

5 sponsors from the industrial and high technology fields will demonstrate French savoir-faire and will be collaborating in partnership with Business France for the fair: CENTRALP, a leader in embedded electronics (www.centralp.fr), CIM, a group specialising in rolling stock maintenance (www.cimgroupe.com), CORYS, a benchmark for driving simulator design and manufacture (www.corys.com), FLERTEX, an expert in disc brake linings and brake shoes (www.flertex.fr) and NEXTER ELECTRONICS, embedded electronic systems engineering professionals (www.nexter-group.fr).

3 questions for Marie-Gabrielle Vaillandet, organiser of the Business France pavilion:

Why was Fer de France chosen as Business France's partner for this year's InnoTrans?

This is the second time that Fer de France is a partner of the France pavilion. Created in 2012, Fer de France is a professional organisation which brings together all rail stakeholders, both public and private, including: public authorities, transport authorities, passenger and freight transport operators, infrastructure managers, manufacturers and engineering companies. Together they represent more than an estimated €30 billion of turnover for the rail industry and around 300,000 jobs.

Fer de France's presence on the French Pavilion is consistent with its mission to ensure the excellence and expertise of the entire French rail industry serves global visions and shared ambitions both in France and abroad.

Fer de France aims to highlight the efficiency of its partner organisations, which include competitiveness clusters, universities, schools and technological research institutes. Committed to energy transition and controlling climate change, Fer de France wishes to highlight the challenge of the modal shift to clean modes of transport, such as rail, which is the most efficient in terms of energy consumption, decongestion and its use of infrastructure and spaces.

This is why Fer de France continues its collaboration with Business France through a website aimed at promoting French rail abroad: www.french-rail-industry.com. Their English-language website promotes the entire industry, identifies a number of French companies' key projects abroad, as well as major events in which they participate during the year. The website allows foreign buyers to consult the profiles of French companies of their choice, and to contact them directly through a dedicated matchmaking platform.

France is recognised as an innovative country in the rail industry; how will the innovations be highlighted?

For the first time, we will be organising a Grand Prix for SMEs and mid-market companies; for Business France, this means continuing its supportive role by encouraging the efforts of the French Pavilion companies in promoting and launching new products.

The selection is being launched and will primarily concern the mechanical components sector, followed by the electronic systems and safety control sectors.

What are the strengths of the French rail offer?

The expertise of the French exhibitors, along with their technological skills and their innovative capacity are part of what allows the French rail industry to be recognised internationally and ranked 3^rd in the world. In Europe, the French rail sector, bolstered by 1,500 companies and a turnover of more than €4 billion - including €1.2 billion in exports - occupies 2^nd place behind Germany. It is a sector of excellence for the country, with a world class reputation and boasting one or more international champions in each of its business lines.

At InnoTrans, exhibitors on the France pavilion will represent all sectors of the rail industry. Among the most prominently represented are: mechanical components for rolling stock (45%), carriage fitting (17%), infrastructure (14%) and embedded electronic systems on trains (12%).

Foreign professionals can already find out more about the French rail industry's indisputable expertise at: www.french-rail-industry.com and come and meet them in the following areas:

Hall 3.2 stand 301, Hall 11.2 stand 110, Hall 26b Stand 115

For more information:

BUSINESS FRANCE

Marie-Gabrielle VAILLANDET

Rail Project Manager

Tel: +33 (0) 1 40 73 32 34

E-mail: marie-gabrielle.vaillandet@businessfrance.fr

Website: www.businessfrance.fr

For further information on this press release, contact:

Business France UK Press Office

Business France UK (The French Trade Commission)

Email: catherine.ryall@businessfrance.fr/ alice.faure.int @businessfrance.fr (mailto:alice.faure.int%20@businessfrance.fr)

Web: www.youbuyfrance.com/uk/