On September 19 and 20, Mr. Olivier Becht, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in charge of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad in Australia, spent two days in Australia  as part of his trip to the Asia Pacific region, before Singapore and Indonesia. The minister did not come to Melbourne, but this visit is a symbol of the importance of the strong ties that unite France and Australia.

Minister Becht welcomed selected members of the French-Victorian community at a reception at the French Consulate in Sydney including Serge Thomann, adviser to French people living abroad and president of French Assist Melbourne, and Stéphane Redey, former president of Melbourne Accueil, and coincidentally a former school friend from their native Alsatian village,

That reception was the occasion for Minister Becht to also affirm his support for some 600 French companies established in Australia.

Stéphane Redey, Olivier Becht and Serge Thomann

You can find more information about Mr. Becht’s visit to Australia in an Le Courrier Australien interview here.