2 EDHEC (one graduate and a teacher) are behind the association VEPI (Volontaires Experts Pour l’International).

Its aim is to boost France’s international trade by hiring unemployed managers in the latter stages of their career to work for French micro-businesses or SMEs looking to export or develop internationally. The association combines two challenges:

- Reduce unemployment levels and associated costs

- Help French export companies to increase their market share

VEPI has had a bill submitted both to the Senate and National Assembly with a view to creating a status for “senior international company volunteers”.

We need the support of the business world.

So we call on company owners, HR directors, senior executives and expats to offer their support by visiting our website: www.assovepi.com.

About the authors:

Until recently, Laurent DUSAUSOY (EMBA 2013) was the COO for Al Ostoura, a luxury brand retailing group in the Middle East (Kuwait).

Serge BESANGER
Associate Professor EDHEC Business School – Singapore
Serge is an Associate Professor of international economics at EDHEC Business School, where he shares his experience as a director and adviser with family-owned Asian firms like the Fung Group. His work relates to the economic environment, company networks, intercultural management, private equity, and comparative corporate financing and governance in Europe and Asia. He is a member of the Singapore Venture Capital Association, works as an expert for the International Monetary Fund and WTO, and is the author of Défi chinois (Alban Éditions).