Caen, Rouen and Le Havre hand in hand! Upper and Lower Normandy’s three major towns were reunited on the same stand at the MIPIM international property show in Cannes last March. And all waving the same banner: “Normandy Avenue”.

MIPIM – an event not to be missed | Caen, Le Havre and Rouen hand in hand |
The Grand Paris will be betting on Caen on the 4th of May in Le Havre

MIPIM – an event not to be missed
As the years go by, and despite the economic crisis (attendance to the show has decreased by a third since its peak in 2008), the MIPIM international property show remains “the” event not to be missed by investors and property developers, be they from, France, Europe or further afield. And for its 21st edition, the show reunited a total of 343 exhibitors (compared to 403 in 2009). Attendance was nevertheless stable compared to 2009, with 18,000 visitors (28,500 in 2008, the show’s record year). And according to the daily newspaper “Les Echos”*, it’s a promising sign (*Friday 19th March issue): synonymous to a come-back on the part of investors. This year, a total of 3,500 attended the show, including over 1,100 investment companies (a 10% increase on 2009).

Caen, Le Havre and Rouen hand in hand
For the fourth year running, Upper and Lower Normandy’s three leading conurbations (Caen, Le Havre and Rouen) joined forces under the same colours. Reunited on the same stand, and under the same banner, baptised “Normandy Avenue”, they presented their respective projects during this three-day show. Hence, Valérie Fourneyron, Deputy and Mayor of Rouen, Philippe Duron, Deputy and Mayor of Caen and Antoine Rufenacht, Deputy and Mayor of Le Havre, posed together for a group photograph. And this year, Miss France 2010 - Malika Ménard, also travelled to Cannes, having accepted an invitation from her hometown, Caen. For let’s not forget that, when she was elected Miss France last December, she proudly donned her Miss Normandy sash!

The Grand Paris will be betting on Caen on the 4th of May in Le Havre
The Grand Paris project, initiated by the architect Grumbach and the aim of which is to connect the regional capital with the port of Le Havre, was presented at the MIPIM international property show. The project’s next phase will be discussed in Le Havre on Tuesday the 4th of May, in the presence of the towns and conurbations involved: Rouen, Caen and Le Havre.

For three days (from the 16th to the 19th of March), Cannes was home to the 21st edition of the MIPIM international property show. Hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors were there to contemplate an array of projects just waiting for investors (see boxed article). And for the fourth year running, the three leading towns from both Normandy regions were reunited under the same name, “Normandy Avenue”. Once again, they successfully renewed their collective initiative ^(1).
“It’s a powerful and constant illustration of Normandy’s capacity to initiate projects under a common identity,” resumes Pascal Hurel, Director of Synergia, Caen la Mer’s economic development agency. “Since 2007, the three development agencies from Caen, Rouen and Le Havre (²⁾ have been keen to demonstrate the striking force and the sheer determination of Normandy’s territories in the race for regional attractiveness targeting Europe’s property investors and developers.”

“And investors are very receptive to dynamic local and regional authorities.”

Hence, the three conurbations presented their projects, on the same stand, via their respective maps and plans.
And for the 2010 edition, scale models in hand, Lower Normandy’s capital city presented two major projects for the conurbation: the “Pôle d’affaires des gares” (railway station business hub), an integral part of the Rives de l’Orne project involving 25,000m2 of office space in partnership with the semi-public company Shema, and the Effiscience Science Park in Colombelles, initiated by Normandie Aménagement and devoted to innovation and interactive mobile devices, which, this year, will be enhanced by a residential development offering over 800 homes. “Investors are very receptive to dynamic local and regional authorities,” notes Alain Kendirge, Shema’s Director.Throughout the show’s aisles and various stands, they ensure that the operations they were presented with over previous shows have indeed been brought to fruition”.

“Quite a unique show”

Meetings, appointments, presentations, be they public or confidential… many an opportunity is seized to exhibit, to meet… to sell! And based on the principal that three heads are better than one, Normandy reunited is truly looking to impress. “Our objective is to consolidate and develop this united “brand name”, the aim of which is to optimise exposure and, consequently promote our regions by presenting investors with remarkable sites and concrete development proposals. By achieving such critical mass together, our offer is just as credible as those of major cities,” adds Pascal Hurel.
For competition is fierce. Major cities from France, Europe, and even beyond, are all present and keen to flaunt their assets in just a few days and over a few square metres. “It’s quite a unique show during which operators, investors and public authorities meet and exchange on future projects. It’s a prime opportunity for those looking to stand out from the crowd to bring their projects to the attention of potential investors. And investors expect to fully grasp the territories on offer” notes Gilles Moreau, director of Normandie Aménagement who remains convinced that such exposure is necessary provided it involves highly authoritative projects.

(1) The brand name “Normandy Avenue” is used twice yearly during France’s two leading business property shows: SIMI in Paris and MIPIM in Cannes. The first is a national show, the second is international.

(2) Normandy’s three conurbations each have their own development agency: Synergia Caen la Mer, ADEAR Rouen Développement and Le Havre Développement.

Pascal Hurel
Director of Synergia
Tel: 02 31 46 73 73

Gilles Moreau
Director of Normandie Aménagement
Tel: 02 31 35 10 20

Alain Kendirgi
Director of SHEMA
Tel: 02 31 46 91 42

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