Americanexpatinfrance's Blog

L’Ile de Ré - A Pearl off the West Coast of France

americanexpatinfrance — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:18:12 +0000

Across an enormous bridge from La Rochelle, a bridge reminiscent of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, lies a little French paradise, a Martha’s Vineyard, or maybe more precisely a Nantucket, à la française.

In 2007, when I took my first French road trip with some friends from the language program at the Sorbonne, we passed through La Rochelle. At the time, I wasn’t quite impressed.

AmCham France event June 17 on Innovation and Competitiveness

americanexpatinfrance — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:45:14 +0000

The American Chamber of Commerce in France has regular events with high profile speakers about different global business subjects.

On June 17 from 5:30 to 7pm, they are organizing the following event on Innovation and Competitiveness. The speaker will be Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE, and the conference will be presided by Maurice Levy, Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe.

Registration required by June 12. All info can be found here.

Innovation et compétitivité : une question d’horizon
17 jun 2013, 17h30 – 19h
Subject : Conférence avec Jeff IMMELT – Chairman of the Board & CEO de General Electric. Animée par Maurice LEVY, Chairman and CEO de Publicis Groupe et Président du Directoire Innovation et compétitivité : une question d’horizon
Speakers : Jeff Immelt – Chairman of the Board & CEO de General Electric Maurice Levy- Chairman & CEO de Publicis Groupe et Président du Directoire
Participants : All members
Location : Pavillon Ledoyen – 1 avenue Dutuit 75008 Paris

Clara Gaymard, Présidente de l’ American Chamber of Commerce in France et Jean Luc Allavena, Président de la French-American Foundation France ont le plaisir de vous convier à la conférence de

Jeff Immelt
Chairman of the Board & CEO de General Electric
sur le thème : “Innovation et compétitivité : une question d’horizon”

Animée par

Maurice Levy
Chairman & CEO de Publicis Groupe et Président du Directoire

La conférence sera suivie d’un cocktail
Veuillez noter que la conférence se tiendra en anglais
Make a reservation (by June 12).

Want to study in France? Event in Chicago May 16th

americanexpatinfrance — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:32:48 +0000

Campus France, the official service of the French Embassy that promotes studies in France, is having an informational event in Chicago on May 16th.

The details are below, please RSVP. I will be speaking at this event as well.

You can check out other links related to studying, teaching and interning in France on this page within my site

The invitation PDF can be downloaded here as well (same info):
05-16 Campus France Invitation

Have you studied in a French-speaking
country? Are you leaving soon?
Are you looking for a great exchange program that will offer you a once-in-a-lifetime experience?
Join us for a special event organized by Campus France USA in Chicago!

Representatives of other French-speaking countries will be joining Campus France for the 2nd edition of this event!

Come enjoy local food and drinks, listen to good music, chat with returning students and have answered all your questions.

Every participant will be able to enter a big game and win great prizes by finding the answers to questions related to the event!

Thursday May 16th 2013, 6-9pm
Alliance Française
810 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60610

6pm:Doors open, let’s begin!
7-8pm:Informative workshop and Q&A session in the auditorium with representatives and guest speakers

Please RSVP before Friday May 10th at: campusfrance@consulfrance-chicago.org

Increase in expat positions globally

americanexpatinfrance — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:25:33 +0000

As published on Expatica, Mercer’s Worldwide International Assignments Policies and Practices report (WIAPP) found that “Over 70 percent of companies expect to increase short-term assignments in 2013.” Very interesting article and report.

Excerpts below. For full article, click on Expatica link above.
If you’re an expat abroad, how long has your assignment been?
If you’re a prospective expat, how many years would you be comfortable living abroad?

(full disclosure: this is not an ad for Mercer).

The report showed that 55 percent of companies expect to increase long-term assignments and highlighted that, for the last two years, there has been an increase in the overall number of international assignments. The report found that China, United States, Brazil, United Kingdom and Australia are the priority destinations in their respective regions for expatriates.

Mercer’s Worldwide International Assignments Policies and Practices report (WIAPP) also found that more than half of companies reported an increase of long-term (52 percent) and short-term assignments (53 percent) in 2011 and 2010. The WIAPP report presents the latest trends in international assignment programme management, policies, and practices data.

Anne Rossier-Renaud, principal in Mercer’s global mobility business said, “International assignments have become diverse in order to meet evolving business and global workforce needs. Relatively low pay increases in some regions, and pressure on companies to attract and retain talent, have spurred many to embrace a wider range of global mobility strategies to incentivise high performers. Mobility and HR directors now face great complexity in the number and type of international assignments that need managing.”

According to Mercer, the top five reasons cited for international assignment programmes are; to provide specific technical skills not available locally (47 percent), to provide career management/leadership development (43 percent), to ensure knowledge transfer (41 percent), to fulfil specific project needs (39 percent), and to provide specific managerial skills not available locally (38 percent). Close to half of North American (45 percent) and European (46 percent) companies indicate career management/leadership development as one of the main reasons they have international assignments. In the future, worldwide, 62 percent of participants anticipate an increase in the number of technical-related short-term assignments, 55 percent anticipate an increase in talent development assignments, and half anticipate an increase in key strategic assignments.

Four Hip, Fun & Yummy Suggestions for a Dinner Out in Paris

americanexpatinfrance — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:42:04 +0000

Reblogged from Becoming Madame:

In addition to our article on Must Try Parisian Restaurants and our Sunday Brunch à Paris special, here are four more hip, 30-something fun and yummy suggestions for a dinner out in Paris! Forget the tourist traps. Come dine where the Parisians eat out.

On the corner of rue Beaurepaire in Paris' 10ème arrondissement at the edge of the Canal Saint Martin, sits

US Tax deadline April 15, and June 17 for US expats abroad

americanexpatinfrance — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:53:35 +0000

Just a friendly reminder that the April 15th tax deadline is fast approaching with our friends at the IRS. Americans living abroad have until June 17th to file their returns, but still any taxes owed to the US government that are outstanding must be paid by April 15th.

For those in France, the US Embassy Paris has a page dedicated to taxation resources, including many links to IRS and forms (like the 2555-EZ form for Foreign Earned Income Tax Exclusion). As the article stipulates, if you’re American and work and reside outside the US, you may be able to exclude up to $95,100 USD annually in foreign income. Check out the links above for further information.

AARO has some views on taxation of Americans abroad, worth the read.

European American Chamber of Commerce event in Lyon 4/16

americanexpatinfrance — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:35:12 +0000

The European American Chamber of Commerce, Lyon chapter, is a part of a network organization that facilitates business and best practices between the US and France. It has chapters in Paris, Lyon, Boston, Cincinnati, New Jersey, New York and a partner in Italy.

They hold conferences and events on business-related topics. On April 16th, they’ll be holding a talk on ETI size companies. The event details are below. RSVP required.

Happy networking!

EACC & KPMG present:

Focus on ETIs,
Intermediate sized companies

Europe counts over 30,000 ETIs – an intermediate category between small and medium enterprises and large companies, more than 3,000 of which are in France, where they are considered to be an essential driver of economic growth.

Speaker: Sara Righenzi de Villers, Expert comptable Commissaire aux Comptes, KPMG

Who are they?
How do they resist the effects of the current economic crisis?
What are their challenges?
What are their key growth drivers?

Tuesday 16 April 2013
from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
KPMG, 51 rue de St Cyr 69009 LYON

6:30pm to 7:00pm – Welcome cocktail
7:00pm to 8:00pm – Presentation and Q&A
8:00pm to 8:30pm – Networking cocktail

Ice, Ice, Baby

americanexpatinfrance — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:33:38 +0000

Reblogged from The Perpetual Passenger:

Paris is expensive.

But if you're here and you're seeking something fun on the cheap, let me introduce you to patin à glace... also known as ice skating!

How attractive is France’s investment environment?

americanexpatinfrance — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 05:29:36 +0000

The French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) posted the following summary of a report recently carried out by consulting and accounting firm KPMG.

The full report is available here, entitled “Facts & Figures on France’s Investment Attractiveness”.

Probably a good idea to check out other resources as well.

There is an interesting report by The Economist in their “The World in 2013″ edition that highlights the likely challenges facing President Hollande’s administration in the next year including the difficulty in encouraging business growth and more investment.

While France remains a country that retains an attractive profile, there is a real risk that increasing taxes and a morose business climate could take hold and hamper growth in 2013. So although France has a lot to offer, it must make progress to improve the business climate and decrease unemployment. It’s not an easy time for Europe, and France will not be an exception. But as the adage goes, “no pain, no gain”.

From: Invest in France Agency

In the competition with other European countries to attract inward investment projects, France boasts a number of key strengths underpinning its investment attractiveness.

These advantages include:
- A large, dynamic market in Europe.
- A skilled, productive workforce.
- Recognized support to foster innovation.
- A plentiful supply of commercial real estate.
- Dense, high-quality transport infrastructure.
- High-quality energy and telecommunications at competitive rates.
- Renowned quality of life.

According to KPMG’s “Competitive Alternatives” biennial guide to business costs in over 100 cities in nine different countries, France stands out for having particularly attractive business setup costs, comprising labor costs, facility costs, transport, utility costs (electricity, natural gas, telecommunications) and corporate tax. In the 2012 edition, France was ranked fourth among the countries compared, up two places from sixth in the previous rankings (2010).

American Clubs in France: a great resource for events

americanexpatinfrance — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 05:16:59 +0000

Bonjour everyone,

I’ve posted in the past about the American Clubs newsletter. It is not just for Americans but more of a resource for expats and French citizens alike to know what’s going on around in France in terms of networking with like-minded individuals in dozens of cities.

I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter (icon on right here to sign up under “Contact Us/Newsletter).

You should also be able to see the latest newsletter edition, for events all over France, here.

Happy networking!