Now everyone is getting wise
That ’s finally on the rise.
I think that now it would be fair
To say that ’s everywhere.
All Business Schools send out their teams
Newspapers now print reams and reams.
Vast hordes of CEOs descend
And Heads of State now condescend
To visit what they once neglected.
In fact this year we’ve been selected
By Bush as well as by Chirac.
We seem to have made quite a mark
For both these rivals rarely see
Eye to eye, yet both agree,
In spite of animosity,
That is the place to be!
France is known for cheese and wine,
Joie de vivre and good design.
We realize the French have flair
But I don’t think it is quite fair
Because of this facility
To limit their ability.
IFCCI, IFTA work hand in hand
So that the world might understand
That has great technology.
It’s known for its biology.
In Nuclear Power it leads the race,
It rockets up with Arianespace.
And travelers can speed away
On Airbus or on TGV.
is number one in speed.
And now it also has the lead
In digital media, you will see.
So when you think technology
Be sure. Don’t take the slightest chance,
Look around but bet on !
But all the same I must deplore
The attitude of Axelor
They should have a wide open door
Why not an Indian on their shore?
We welcome companies from France
To give us more than just a glance.
IFTA and IFCCI can point the way
And help them come and help them stay.
And Thomson now soon will enter
For Bollywood’s a major centre.
And to help them find their way
They chose to send Olivier.
And very willingly he went.
For , he’s the president.
Alas! They based him in .
So frequently he must take wing,
Without much notice he swoops down.
So when I heard he’d be in town
With IFCCI’s help we rushed things through,
There was nothing we could do
About the notice being short.
We are delighted that we caught
Olivier on his fleeting trip.
We can’t afford to let it slip.
Though now that ’s everywhere
I wonder what he’s doing there.
We lack the roads, we lack the ports,
But have the brains and the courts!
I’m sure he’ll tell us what he does
And talk about the latest buzz-
The resurgent powers of the East
Now rise and want to join the feast.
Olivier works both here and there
His views on both he can share.
He worked 4 years on innovation
New ways for the elimination
Of piracy, the bane of brands.
He also worked in many lands
And helped to forge lots of JVs
Something he does with greatest ease.
He studied history in ,
He could well talk on wine, I know.
But that would be the old cliché.
We now project the high tech way.
I think you should all be aware
Two things in his CV, I share.
Both Alumni of HBS,
No link to I must confess.
But thanks to we share one feat
L’Ordre National du Mérite.
I see him jumping in his seat
So hastily I will retreat.
You will enjoy his speech, I’m sure.
Olivier, now you have the floor!
