" 2023 will be an optimistic year, with market performances to be confirmed and new challenges to be met for our industry ".

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On Friday May 26, 2023,EuroSIMA 's AnnualGeneral Meeting was held at Créaluz - a business incubator and prototyping workshop dedicated to sustainable innovation - in Saint Jean de Luz, bringing together around a hundred members of the association.

First and foremost, the thoughts of all participants were turned to our dear colleague and friend, Franck Laporte-Fauret, currently in a serious state of health in Bayonne hospital. We have been thinking of him every moment since his accident on May 14 in Seignosse, while practicing one of his favorite sports, kitesurfing. Our hearts go out to him and to his family and friends, and we assure them of our full and sincere support.

 

At December 31, 2022, theEUROSIMA association had 167 members(representing over 200 brands), including 104 manufacturers and distributors and 63 affiliated service providers. Members represent over 4,000 jobs in the New Aquitaine region, and generate sales of 1.9 billion euros. The association's mission is to federate and develop an ecosystem of companies, to encourage the emergence of new projects, and to ensure the growth and sustainability of established companies in the European Action Sports industry.

 

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Jean-Louis Rodrigues, President of EuroSIMA, talks about his election to a new term of office:

"I'm delighted to have been able to confirm this third mandate with an excellent team, highly invested within the EUROSIMA Board of Directors, in a complex economic context but a dynamic market with very good results achieved in fiscal 2021 and 2022. 

 

Unity is strength, and I'm delighted to have been able to consolidate this close relationship, developed on the economic recovery front with our institutional partners, but also on the industrial front, with numerous issues defended alongside theUnion Sport et Cycle and theOutdoor Sports Valley Association in 2022. As a result, our industry has gained greater recognition from the public authorities, as well as enhanced support for economic recovery and development.

2022 was a year synonymous with confirmation of the momentum and interest in our market, with the rise of the surf tourism destination on Europe's coasts. 

These are economic times, with many opportunities and challenges for our industry, such as our commitment to the environment and CSR. I am delighted to note the efforts made by a number of our members, and would like to congratulate the recent B Corp certified companies. This will stimulate and accelerate our industry's transition towards sustainable development.

In 2023, our efforts will once again be focused on 3 major strategic directions: 

• Circular Economy, Sustainable Development & CSR
• Digital transformation of companies in the sector
• Employment, Training & Skills for employees in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region

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Eurosima Board of Directors re-elected

At the Annual General Meeting, Jean-Louis Rodrigues was re-elected Chairman of EuroSIMA, alongside the other members of the Board of Directors, who were re-elected for a 2-year term.

 

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What about 2023?

 

" 2023 will be an optimistic year, with market performances to be confirmed and new challenges to be met for our sector. "says Jean-Louis Rodrigues.

For 2023, EuroSIMA is committed to meeting these priorities through 3 strategic actions:

• Support for companies, economic development of the sector
  • Strengthen, develop and pursue exchanges with companies in our ecosystem, in France and Europe.
  • Accelerate the emergence and support of eco-innovation and R&D projects in the region by assisting companies.

• Promoting the industry and the region
  • Promotion of outstanding initiatives and best practices by local businesses.
  • Continue to contribute to the influence of the boardsports industry and its partners, by connecting and mobilizing the national and international network.
  • Identify and establish strategic partnerships with other regions, using regional events in particular to optimize the industry's presence at international trade shows.

• Awareness, training, employment & skills
  • Enhance the attractivenesś of the professions and consolidate the training offer.
  • Supporting companies in their human resources and skills development (HR) challenges by mobilizing existing regional programs and those of our partners.
  • Sharing best practices and testing new solutions to improve working conditions for local companies in the sector.

 

The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Jean-Louis Rodrigues, who thanked the entire executive team and the members of the Board of Directors for their commitment to the Action Sports industry in Europe, and invited all participants to the key annual event for the surf industry: the EUROSIMA Surf Summit.EUROSIMA Surf Summit to be held this year on September 28 & 29 at the Belambra in Seignosse.

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EUROSIMA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023 REPORT : A new term for president Jean-Louis Rodrigues & re-election of the board of administrators

"2023 will be an optimistic year with market performance to be confirmed and new challenges for our industry"

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The EuroSIMA General Assembly took place this past Friday on May 26, 2023 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz at Créaluz, the business incubator and sustainable innovation prototyping workshop. Roughly one hundred members attended the event.

First and foremost, all our thoughts and prayers went to our dear friend and colleague, Franck Laporte-Fauret, who is currently in the hospital in Bayonne due to serious health issues. He has been in our hearts and minds since last May 14, when he had a stroke in Seignosse while going out to do one of his favorite sports: kitesurfing. We are all here for him and send our most sincere support to him, his family and close friends.

 

As of December 31, 2022, EUROSIMA included 167 members(representing over 200 brands), of which 104 are manufacturers and retailers, while 63 are affiliated service providers. The members represent over 4000 jobs in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region and generate 1.9 billion euros in turnover. The association aims to federate and to develop a business ecosystem to encourage the emergence of new projects and to ensure growth and long-term stability for new and existing businesses in the European Action Sports industry.

 

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Jean-Louis Rodrigues, EuroSIMA President on his election for a new term:

"I am very glad to be able to take on this third term surrounded by an excellent team of people who are all committed and active within the EUROSIMA board in this complex economic context but also within a dynamic market with very good results for 2021 and 2022.

I believe that there is strength in numbers and I am thrilled to have been able to consolidate the tight-knit relations we established in 2022 for economic stimulus with our institutional partners but also with Union Sport et Cycle and Outdoor Sports Valley. Thanks to these agreements, our industry has enjoyed increased visibility with public institutions and more assistance in terms of economic development and growth.

2022 proved to be a year that confirmed rising popularity our market enjoys, namely due to the increased interest in surf destination tourism along the European shores.

We are currently in an economic era that presents our industry with many opportunities but also challenges such as environmental commitment through CSR and I am glad to see the variety of efforts and initiatives many of our members have implemented. With that in mind, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the businesses that have recently received B-Corp certification. This will undoubtedly stimulate and accelerate a transition towards a more sustainable Action Sports industry as a whole.

In 2023, our efforts will once again focus on 3 key strategic pillars:

•  The circular economy, sustainable development and CSR
• Digital transformation for businesses in our industry
• Jobs, training and skills development for coworkers throughout the Nouvelle-Aquitaine territory".

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Eurosima Board of Directors re-elected

During this General Assembly, Jean-Louis Rodrigues was reelected as EuroSIMA President alongside the Board of Administrators for a new 2-year term.

 

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What about 2023?

"2023 will be an optimistic year with market performance to be confirmed and new challenges for our industry" said Jean-Louis Rodrigues.

For 2023, EuroSIMA will rise to these challenges through the above-mentioned priorities through 3 strategic initiatives :

1. Assisting businesses and fostering economic growth for the industry
   • Reinforcing, developing and pursuing interaction among businesses in our ecosystem, both in France and in Europe.
   • Accelerating the emergence and assistance for R&D and eco-innovative projects in our territory through business support.

2. Active visibility across our territory and promoting our industry
   • Promoting remarkable initiatives and good practices throughout our territory
   • Pursuing efforts to contribute to the visibility and influence of Action Sports players and their partners through networking opportunities both nationally and internationally
   • Identifying and establishing strategic partnerships with other territories, relying namely on regional events to maximise presence of our industry at international trade fairs.

3. Raising awareness, training, employment & skills
   • Reinforcing the attractiveness of our careers and consolidating training opportunities.
   • Assisting businesses with their Human resources needs and increasing skills by activating existing regional options as well as those of our partners.
   • Sharing good practices and testing new solutions to improve working conditions of businesses in our territory.

 

The meeting came to an end with President Jean-Louis Rodrigues thanking the entire executive team as well as the Board members for their commitment to supporting businesses in the Action Sports industry in Europe. He also took the opportunity to invite all participants to the Action Sports' industry annual key event: the EUROSIMA Surf Summit, which will take place this year in Seignosse at the Belambra on September 28 & 29, 2023.