France Ireland Chamber of Commerce launches new business initiative

The France Ireland Chamber of Commerce (FICC) expansion continues on its upward trajectory with the recent opening of new offices on Dublin’s Merrion Square.

The move is to facilitate the increasing demand for shared and supported workspace for French professionals planning to set up in Ireland or simply to have access to the flourishing Franco-Irish business community.

Five hot desks will be made available under the chamber’s VIE Hébergement Service. This service provides a professional working environment for VIEs from French companies. It offers these companies an opportunity to test the waters here in Ireland and provides a springboard from which to develop and expand their international businesses.

In Ireland, the VIE programme is managed through Business France, a division of the French Government.

Le Volontariat International en Entreprise (VIE) is an international corporate talent scheme which enables French companies to send abroad any candidate up to the age of 28 to undertake a wide range of professional assignments for a period of six to 24 months. In Ireland, this programme grants French subsidiary companies easy access to a pool of 40,000 experienced, motivated and highly qualified talented young professionals.

Tax-free and costing up to 35 per cent lower than a local contract, the VIE programme operates as a turnkey HR solution with Business France supporting all contractual, administrative and insurance aspects.

The VIE grants a public status within a protective framework to the professionals involved as there is no contractual tie between the Company and the VIE, who then lies under the authority of the French Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Karen Soman, Business France VIE administrator for UK and Ireland said: “This programme has proven to be extremely successful with over 8,000 young professionals currently interning in more than 130 countries, 100 of whom are located in Ireland. The VIE programme is currently recommended by 98 per cent of the 1,969 user companies registered. Through this programme, we have helped many young professionals achieve great success and aid in the establishment of many French companies in Ireland.”

Cliona McGowan, director, FICC, said: “The FICC is both excited and fully confident it will be a win-win scenario for Franco-Irish business relations and essentially a solid professional platform to develop business between Ireland and France, now our closest EU neighbour.”

To learn more, visit: franceireland.ie/services/hebergement-vie.html