Mr. Lepetit is senior adviser in the French Embassy for energy and environment. Mr. Lepetit was involved during six years in negotiations on European affairs. In 1991, he was in the French team in the negotiation of the Maastricht Treaty which provides the legal basis for Economic and Monetary Union and for the single currency. From 1992 to 1995, he was Deputy General Secretary of the European desk in the Prime Minister’s office where he participated in the GATT negotiations, in the enlargement of the European Union to include Sweden, Austria and Finland, in the European Union budget, and in agricultural policy. From 1995 to 1997, he was special adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs-Head of the Intergovernmental Conference Task Force for European negotiations on institutional reforms.

The Euro Zone

The "Euro Zone" represents a total GDP of 8.6 trillion dollars versus 7.3 trillion for the U.S., about 20% of world trade, similar to the U.S., and 290 million inhabitants.

Trade and Investment Between Europe and Louisiana

Europe is also very important for the Louisiana economy. Europe is the largest investor in Louisiana with a total investment exceeding $15 billion. Trade and investments from Europe support more than 40,000 jobs in Louisiana, according to the European/American Business Council. In 1996, the exports of Louisiana goods to the EU surpassed $4.8 billion. The main exports were agriculture commodities, food products, and chemical and petrochemical products.

In Cooperation With

Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs

City of New Orleans, Office of International Trade

Consular Corps of New Orleans

New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center

Le Centre International de Lafayette

Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC

Louisiana International Trade Commission

Traffic & Transportation Club of Greater New Orleans

Transportation Research Institute, Inc.