DUBAI — A public-private delegation from Lyon has taken notice of Dubai’s skyscrapers, prompting it to invite real estate developers here to invest in that third-largest French city located in the east central part of France.
“Maybe Dubai can go to Lyon and build towers,” said Lyon Mayor Gerard Collomb, who noted the growing success of the property industry in Dubai, during a press conference yesterday.
Collomb was heading the Lyon delegation, which is seeking further trade and investment co-operation between the two cities, aside from the ‘Lyon-Dubai City’ project between the Lyon municipality and the Emirates Investment and Development Company (Emivest).
Guy Mathiolon, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon, said his office is having negotiations with Emirates Airline to conduct daily direct flights between Lyon and Dubai starting this year. He is also the president of Lyon’s international airport, which is being managed by the chamber.
Formal planning for the Lyon-Dubai City, which calls for the creation of a Lyon urban atmosphere in Dubai, started in January following last year’s visit by Emivest officials to Lyon. The project also aims to market Lyon’s expertise in education, arts and culture in Dubai and to help the latter preserve its environment and socio-economic development.
Dr Kasini Chelli, president of the Canadian University of Dubai, a wholly owned institution by Emivest, said there are various areas being considered for the 400-hectare project.
By Jose Franco