Otis to participate in its World Cup football 2014 in Brazil. The U.S. company will install in Rio escalators and elevators of the legendary Maracana stadium, refurbished for the occasion. Recently it has also equipped the Burj Dubai Khalifa, the world's highest. And he was chosen to implement its latest generation of products to the Empire State Building in New York.

This series of prestigious contracts is part of a long history for the brand created in the 1850s by Elisha Graves Otis, inventor of the elevator. Since then the company has been incorporated into United Technologies, which has other subsidiaries such as air conditioning specialists Carrier or aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.

Otis remains the king of lifts, with 80% of appliances brand in major tours around the globe. What outdo his most serious challenger, the European Schindler, ThyssenKrupp and Kone. "We are the world leader with a market share of around 25%," says Peter Dejoux, president of Northern Europe and Africa at Otis.

Last year, the group continued to race ahead: its revenues ($ 12.4 billion, or 9.6 billion euros) was up 7%, while its profit before tax (2 , $ 8 billion, or 2.2 billion euros) rose by 9%.

400,000 new lifts in China every year

Yet the recent history of Otis is anything but smooth sailing. First, the group has changed its mind. Exit the French Didier Michaud-Daniel, income in the Hexagon head Veritas, the certification specialist. Since mid-February, it was the Spaniard Pedro Baranda is at the helm. In the aftermath, Peter Dejoux took over some of the functions of Bruno Grob, one of the great figures of the company, died suddenly in November 2011. A new management team, while the global landscape of elevators undergoing a profound transformation. "Growth is high (5 to 10%) in emerging countries like China, India and Brazil as the market is spread in France, posting a decline in Southern Europe", illustrates Dejoux Pierre. China, for example, has become the world's largest market for new lifts, with 400,000 units installed each year.

To meet demand, Otis adapt its industrial sites and multiplies in the new El Dorado. The group built an elevator factory in Chongqing, the metropolis of western China, its fourth in the Middle Kingdom. In India, it will triple the capacity of its plant in Bangalore. "We are implementing there partly because these countries are sensitive to what we produced on site, said Peter Dejoux. But, from our factories in China, we serve as the countries of Southeast Asia. "

Moreover, these markets booming, the group has bucked his offer. With Otis brand, it offers high-end products like the Gen2 elevator to consume 60% less energy. But he also established joint ventures with local companies to distribute products from entry level. In India, in Gujarat, it sells brand elevators Trio. Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa, it distributes the references of another elevator manufacturer, Sigma.

In mature markets, the focus is more on maintenance, which often represents nearly 70% of sales. Otis has launched a dozen countries in a service called Elite that can repair elevators and remote … to increase the annual subscription of 200 to 250 euros. Contracts of this type have been subscribed for 80,000 units, a total of 1.8 million elevators maintained by the group in the world.

ALSO READ:

"The 'French Spiderman' conquers the tallest tower in the world

The figures published on Wednesday trade deficits German and French offers a shortcut striking about the strengths and weaknesses of the two economies. German exports hit a record in March. They rose 0.9% on month and rise to 98.9 billion euros, thanks to the success of products across the Rhine outside the euro zone. Its trade surplus amounted to 17.4 billion euros, up 16.8%. "A further sign of a healthy German economy despite the crisis in the euro area", decrypts Wirschke Constantine, an economist at Natixis.

If, at the same time, France has reduced its trade deficit of almost 500 million euros to 5.7 billion euros, it hides a global slowdown in trade. Clearly, exports fell twice as fast as imports. The first fell to 558 million euros, to 36.491 billion, when the second fell by 1.1 billion euros to 42.212 billion on March.

"The decline is more pronounced for imports after the substantial purchases energy (oil, gas) caused by the February cold snap, so the trade deficit is reduced, 'the Customs. Apart from lower petroleum products, purchases of industrial products decreased, which could reflect a slowdown in France, as the perceived leading economic index for April.

For their part, "exports of manufacturing industries are marking time, after their sharp increase earlier this year," are Customs. Computer sectors, including automotive and aerospace have been less successful in other countries.  

The good health of the German economy, however, allowed the industry to limit the hexagonal case. In March, Germany has indeed set a record for imports as well (78.1 billion euros over the month, up 1.2%) whose French exports have benefited. Particularly in the industrial machinery sector.

ALSO READ:

"Coup brake on world trade in 2012 and 2013

"The bosses in a climate of uncertainty in April

The tone hardens in the conflict between marine companies between Corsica and the mainland. The strike called by the CGT Wednesday to demand the application of the same social laws to all shipping companies, including foreign competition, making these runs was renewed this Saturday. A decision that provoked the "anger" of the direction of SNCM (Société Nationale Corse Méditerranée), 66% subsidiary of Veolia Transdev. The South (ex-CMN) is also affected by the strike. The movement "is followed at 28% to SNCM, a little more to the CMN, but enough to prevent smuggling," said the leadership of SNCM.

The nine SNCM ships and the South (ex-CMN) assigned to services between Marseille, Nice and Corsica are therefore remained docked for the fourth consecutive day, some 10,000 passengers were affected since the conflict began. Many of them have changed their return by traveling on ships of the private company Corsica Ferries, Italian flag, which normally circulate. SNCM has expressed "outrage" because "this movement supposed to fight our competitors rather strengthen, beyond their expectations." Moreover, the director of the company for Corsica, Pierre-André Giovannini, expressed his "regret for the inconvenience to our customers, passengers and cargo carriers, and this new blow to the island economy." He said over the weekend of May 8 Bridge is "one of the most important pre-season tourist" for Corsica.

A bill filed by the PCF

The strikers will meet again Sunday morning to decide on the following movement. "So is the future of thousands of jobs in our profession," says the union in a statement. The strike comes as the ferries market suffered the turmoil of the crisis in recent years. Thus, since its passage in the private sector in 2006, SNCM has almost always been in the red. She was accused of operating losses of 15 million euros last year. Especially, the CGT sailors had already scored a major coup a year ago by stopping work for 47 days, never seen to SNCM. If it were to get bogged down, however this new strike is unlikely to change the trajectory of the group. The direction of the SNCM instead reiterated its "determination to rapidly modernize and evolve the company, in all areas." Last March, the chief executive, Marc Dufour, warned that SNCM would have to separate at least two car ferries and 800 employees in 1617.

In some election, this issue has naturally taken a political turn. Friday, a trade union delegation was received in Paris by representatives of different parties, including the national secretary of the PCF, Peter Lawrence. His party has tabled in the Senate on March 22 a bill to require all companies operating in France the first entry in register of ships, making them subject to French social laws. Sailors CGT also met the spokesman of the Socialist Party, Benoît Hamon, who is, according to the union, "clearly in favor of the adoption of this law," and a consultant Francois Hollande. In Marseille, finally, a delegation was received by the federation UMP.

ALSO READ:

"Corsica cut in subsidies from SNCM

"SNCM delays disengagement of Veolia

"SNCM: 800 jobs threatened

The confrontation was not as strong in the government of Angela Merkel since the controversial reform of the Bundeswehr. The center-right coalition headed by Chancellor, is torn for weeks about family policy. The bill providing for the introduction of a bonus for parents raising their children at home instead of placing them in a nursery or kindergarten, the Betreuungsgeld, causing great controversy across the Rhine. His critics believe that this will discourage women seeking to balance motherhood and work, when the German labor market already sorely lacking manpower.

The draft Betreuungsgeld is supported by the Conservative party leadership Merkel (CDU) and its Bavarian ally, the CSU, a stickler for traditional family values. In Bavaria, the tradition of the "three Ks" (Kinder, Küche, Kirche – "children, kitchen, church") continues to weigh heavily on women. The grant, which should be between 100 and 150 euros per child under 3's home, is supposed to be passed before the summer for implementation in January 2013. The Conservatives say they want to do and "evidence of heart." "The premium will be adopted and no concessions," warns Christine Haderthauer, Social Affairs Minister of Bavaria.

"Prime the stove"

But critics of the project are growing within the CDU and liberal allies in Merkel, who threaten to vote against it in the Bundestag. Philipp Rösler, deputy chancellor and patron of the Free Democrats, believes that "the objective of facilitating the reconciliation of family and professional life" is threatened by the grant. Unions and management are, in unison, standing against the wind project called the "premium in the kitchen." Dieter Hundt, president of BDA, the German employers, claiming "the abandonment of this project fundamentally harmful."

They see it as a barrier to women entering the labor market, a crucial issue for Germany. The premium would encourage mothers to stay home for years to keep their children, jeopardizing their chances of finding employment. The birth rate is already reflected in an acute shortage of manpower across the Rhine. Federation of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) estimates the loss of 400,000 skilled workers annually. By 2030, the German working population is projected to decline by a quarter, he predicts. Immigration, but also working women are supposed to compensate. Difficulties in reconciling the birth of a child and continue to work stopping the fertility rate across the Rhine, with 1.3 children per woman is one of the lowest in the EU.

Opponents of the project also felt that the premium balance of harms children by delaying their adaptation to life in society, and the chances of the poor, whose awakening would be delayed.

ALSO READ:

"While returning to work after childbirth

"The Germans are working too little

They are the world 4000. These are created corporate universities, including training for all employees into thinking strategy, relationships with customers and suppliers. In France, they are still relatively under-exploited compared to a country like the U.S. (they exist only in 42% of companies surveyed by Ipsos for the Panorama HR BearingPoint).

Accor has pioneered in France, with the launch of the first university (called Academy) in 1985 in Evry (Essonne). Since then, the network giant's hospitality has grown and now has 17 academies around the world, attended each year by 135,000 students (for an average of 3 days).

37 000 employees trained in Saffron

According to BearingPoint, corporate universities should be less a place of production of content for reflection on trades or animation of the sectors. The University of BNP Paribas, installed twenty years at Louveciennes near Paris, recalls in this context that 75% of training efforts are devoted to technical aspects and 25% are cross-curricular competencies.

Physical sites or campuses in schools that organize their behalf training sessions? Forms of corporate universities are diverse. The engine manufacturer Safran devotes 13 acres near Paris to house its campus, the Safran Corporate University, plus the locations in Beijing and Dallas, to train 37,000 employees each year. Same strategy for Veolia, which has 21 campuses worldwide, including 6 in France, or EDF, which has consolidated its business academy in Les Mureaux, near Paris.

Other companies prefer partnerships with academia. Like the Mazars University, founded in 2006 by the specialist in auditing and consulting. As for PSA, he plans to sign this year no less than twenty-three partnerships with colleges and universities. The manufacturer intends to target the most prestigious colleges in each region. A strategy that resulted in France by the creation of chairs at the Polytechnic or Mines.

ALSO READ:

"How to advance its employees

"E-learning is giving way in Europe

SERVICE:

"Find your training Kelformation

It is defined as a 'detective' Made in France '. " Sylvain Lescot, 33 years and commercial training, launched in December the site-Référence.fr France, with the ambition to "establish the habit of buying citizen." Specifically, this merchant, whose product catalog spans four themes (home, toys and entertainment, multimedia and gastronomy), offers users to compare one product with its foreign equivalent, manufactured in France. Thus, facing the mixer "Soup Maker" Cuisinart product in the U.S. and priced at 199.50 euros, it suggests to the consumer to buy the "Soup & Co" Moulinex to 229.90 euros. Salt and pepper to the duo Automatic One Touch range (29.90 euros), made in China, he opposes the salt mill Peugeot "Bistro natural" (16.50 euros).  

The concept is in tune with the times: 42.3% of French people think that promoting products "Made in France" should be a priority in the presidential campaign, according to a study site Testntrust. Or, buy French is often an obstacle course. Mentions on the origin of components and place of manufacture on the labels abound, sometimes inducing the consumer. "The offer on the shelves is a jungle," said Sylvain Lescot, that "the French do not know in general that there are local equivalents to foreign products the best known." With the exception of certain areas, such as multimedia or television, in which there is almost no offer purely French. To select products, France-Référence.fr is based on criteria adopted by the association Pro France, which manages the label "Origin France Guarantee ', the main requirement being that at least 50% of the value added product is produced in the Hexagon free business cards.

90% of products are purchased French

While websites offering a selection of products "Made in France" multiply, France-Référence.fr claims its status online retailers. "The consumer is free to choose the foreign product, we also have in stock," says Sylvain Lescot. "We respect the individual tastes and budgets." If the French massively plébiscitent local products, the price point is important in these times of crisis. Only 49% of them are willing to pay more, the last notes of the brand Observatory France. A concern that shade Sylvain Lescot. "While some French products can be twice as expensive than their foreign counterparts, others have a price lower than 20%."

Still, with this system of comparison, the offer tricolor appears to be doing on the game-Référence.fr France, 90% of the products purchased are French, welcomes its founder. "The 'Made in France' is not a utopia, but a way of future consumption," wants to believe. Therefore, after investing nearly 60,000 euros in building his company, the latter provides a second phase investment of 100,000 euros in the next three months to boost its offer of 300 references to over 1000. France-Référence.fr be able to respond to a request which, according to forecasts by Sylvain Lescot, should quickly jump from 5 to 50 orders per day.

ALSO READ:

"'Made in France": how the consumer is found there

"What consumers expect from the presidential

"The automotive and telecoms are the pride of the French

"The soil will benefit from the wave" Made in France "

While political leaders promises to multiply the SME, 300 business leaders gathered in Evian (Haute Savoie) for three days, from March 22 to 24, during the fourth Spring Campus organized by the association CroissancePlus. They reflected a very real way on how best to grow very small businesses and SMEs to become medium-sized companies (ETI) employing between 250 and 5000 employees. "Growth is the foundation of everything. We must grow faster than its competitors to beat them, "testified Xavier Fontanet, former chairman of the board of Essilor, the world leader in the ophthalmic lens.

"In Germany, large ETI achieving over 500 million euros in turnover increase. They took advantage of a phenomenon of concentration. Seven out of ten bought a small business or a merger between 1996 and 2006, "noted Jacky Lintignat, CEO of KPMG. The French group Altrad, European leader of the scaffold (494 million euros of turnover), was embraced by making 45 acquisitions since 1985 in France and abroad. "Our goal is to double our turnover in the next four years," said Mohed Altrad, president of the eponymous group which opened its capital to three banks CM-CIC Capital Finance, Arkea Private Equity, a subsidiary of Credit mutual Arkea, BNP Paribas and Development and the Strategic Investment Fund.

But entrepreneurs are divided on the interest of bringing investors to accelerate their growth Low fee payday loans. The start-up Showroomprivé, which sells brands on the Internet, hosted the U.S. fund Accel Partners to expand internationally. "We must not fall into the hands of investment funds and the stock market go," he assured his side Maxime Holder, CEO Paul bakeries, one of three businesses Holder family group. A difficult experience with a fund in Britain, explains this desire for independence. "There is not DNA but the DNA for a company to succeed," commented Olivier Duha, president of CroissancePlus. To allow contractors control their business while allowing them to find money to grow, Jean-Louis Beffa, honorary president of Compagnie Saint-Gobain, has proposed that SMEs can benefit from "equity without right to vote. " The often difficult relationship between large companies and SMEs were also discussed. "Many SMEs do not dare connect to Danone. We must learn to work together, "regretted Franck Riboud, Danone CEO. There is a way to go. SMEs are often reluctant to approach some large groups because they do not always respect the law, including the supervision of payment periods.

ALSO READ:

"CroissancePlus challenges the candidates

"The industrial denounce tax competition

17 billion euros in investments, 164,000 jobs directly and 97,000 indirectly. Which to house the mammoth project? Madrid against Barcelona: the contenders are the most powerful cities of Spain … and two eternal rivals, in politics as on the football field.

A funny clásico, fanned by a singular trophy: the U.S. company Las Vegas Sands wants to establish in Spain's largest casino complex on the Old Continent. "Eurovegas" must be the European version of the world capital of the game Six casinos, 36,000 hotel rooms, three golf courses, a 15,000-seat auditorium

.

The figures, astronomical, are salivating entrepreneurs and politicians, while the country is mired in negative growth and an unemployment rate near 23%. The real estate engine "miracle" Spanish is down. Regions and municipalities in crisis seek relays create jobs and tax revenue.

In desperation, local politicians are suitable for all investors games. Left to take a project still vague for a real growth driver. Leaves to forget that five years ago, a similar idea had generated the same enthusiasm in Aragon, before developers do not suddenly reverse.

Barcelona or Madrid? Sheldon Adelson, owner of Las Vegas Sands, hesitates. After a year of study and 7.6 million euros spent, however, the decision must fall rapidly before the summer, the billionaire promises.

Rebates and exemptions

His communications director, Ron Reese, said the two cities "are tied." The project, said Reese, who will go to that show the more "flexible". The list of requirements is long Adelson as a letter to Santa. His company is seeking exemptions from social contributions and tax rebates. She wants the standards against money laundering to be relaxed to facilitate, she said, remittances players. Besides other applications wackiest, like creating a MBA in the gaming industry, or the lifting of the ban on smoking in rooms.

These requirements seem exorbitant to upset any politician. In Barcelona, ​​we recall that the project needs to attract 11 million visitors. "Quality tourism" believes the President of Catalonia, Artur Mas.

In Madrid, the figure of 260,000 jobs dizzy: it represents half the number of unemployed in the region. The president of the autonomous government, Esperanza Aguirre, has promised to make "all necessary legal modifications, as they do not violate [its] principles."

Demonstration in Madrid

Thousands of people rallied Sunday in the streets of Madrid to the appeal of unions, against labor reform implemented by the government the right to fight against unemployment, the mobilization test before a general strike scheduled for March 29.

The two main Spanish unions, UGT and CCOO, have called for demonstrations in 60 cities in Spain, to protest a reform they deem "unfair and ineffective" and "defense of public services".

Carrying red flags and placards with the words "no budget cuts", "No to social regression", shouting "we will not pay their debts with health and education", thousands of protesters stormed the center Madrid. 

The Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy adopted on February 11 for further reform of labor market flexibility, including lower redundancy payments and measures to stimulate youth employment.

CNP Assurances, the French champion of savings, is preparing to turn a page. That of the fourteen executive Gilles Benoist, whose term expires on June 7, at the general meeting of the group. The board should appoint a successor by then, probably in April.

Both candidates are friends of the house is officially reported to the nominating committee: Antoine Lissowski, CFO of NOC, supported by Gilles Benoist, and Augustin de Romanet, the CEO of the Caisse des Depots, parent company of CNP, which term ends on March 7. Banquy Didier, chief of staff Baroin at Bercy, have also expressed strong interest in a few weeks ago. In parallel, the Presidency of the insurance company will also be renewed. Edmond Alphandery wishes to maintain this position, but it could be countered by projects Michel Bouvard. The current Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Caisse des Depots et de Savoie MP is not standing for parliamentary elections and running for office. The question is whether a parallel appointment of two directors of the Caisse des Depots would be accepted.

Expand distribution

Whatever the identity of the future direction, it must address major challenges. The model of NPC, sitting on a rule of life insurance in France is slowing. In 2011, the turnover of the institution fell by 7.1%, to 30 billion euros, after a year of stagnation in 2010. Savings activities have plunged 13.4%, sealed by the difficulties of life insurance in France and Italy. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in retirement activities (17 payday loans.7%) and pensions (11%). In the end, the institution made a profit, down 17% from 872 million euros, affected by provisions in Greece and financial market volatility. "Most of these shocks has been absorbed by the insured, due to a lower rate of participation in profits", said Gilles Benoist, the Director General. Most life insurance contracts provides that losses as gains in the markets are passed on to policyholders.

Gilles Benoist has already begun a broad effort to diversify business (retirement, pension, loan …) and geographic markets in its group. International operations, excluding France, and the end of 2010 represented 37% of gross operating profit of the company. Today, products of CNP are distributed through the networks of La Banque Postale and the Savings Banks. These trade agreements, completed an equity investment, which run until 2015, can be discussed again this year.

The priority for CNP Assurances is now expanding its distribution channels. The company is therefore exploring the opportunity to partner with a third partner. Several schemes, still very early, are being studied. They would favor, according to our information, the card mutual, with reflections on networks and Groupama Covéa (GMF, Maaf, MMA).

ALSO READ:

"Life insurance: stark inequalities between clients

"Life insurance: new outflow record

Sophie Menthon: 7 lessons in etiquette … by Cadremploi The etiquette in business has he? Sophie de Menthon, who founded several companies, has recruited a lot and today chairs the employers' movement ETHIC, is not safe. The company often forget the courtesy to candidates, suppliers, customers or employees.

For this reason, Sophie de Menthon published The etiquette in business, business requires. Beyond the formal rules of politeness, just listen to understand that the company has its codes. We understand them or you do not understand them. And, after a certain age, coarseness does not catch up. This is the youngest, the famous Generation Y, to study the seven lessons of etiquette that we propose to Sophie Menthon.

There are others but the spelling, how to be, to dress, talk, brief attitudes, can still work and learn when you're young. Paradoxically, these lessons of good manners are not always enough. Sophie Menthon may well be a bourgeois educated, she says she sometimes lacked herself and admit a blunder that has hurt (see the "bonus" at the end of video). It recognizes also be annoying sometimes, especially in his relationship with women. This is the price of self-confidence, frankness and independence. Then one likes or dislikes this "big mouth" whose listeners appreciate the RMC outspoken. Or not.

ALSO READ:

"Google:" We googlise candidates, of course "

SERVICE:

"All jobs in France and abroad with Cadremploi

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON FIGARO:

"Twitter: @ LeFigaro_Emploi