Paris, July 8, 2004 - Paris EUROPLACE, the organization in charge of promoting the French financial market, is organizing on July 8 & 9 in Paris the 11 th edition of its International Financial Forum on the topic " Europe Heading for the Future: Investment Opportunities ".

This two-day conference, chaired by Mr Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of Suez, Chairman of Paris EUROPLACE, is marked this year by its international dimension: more than 1500 participants, representatives of pension and mutual funds, asset managers, decision makers of the Europe, Asia and USA.

The lunch on July 8 is hosted by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry. The 2nd day of the Forum will start with an opening remark by Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank. Mr Dominique Perben, Minister of Justice, will close the Forum on the occasion of the Best CAC 40 General Assembly Awards ceremony.

Mr Gerard Mestrallet highlights: Considering the stakes in terms of employment and the position of Paris and Europe, the Paris EUROPLACE Board asked me to build a partnership with the City of Paris, the Greater Paris region and the government in order to promote Paris as a European financial center. This partnership comprises 5 top priority areas:

- adapt in a permanent manner the regulatory and fiscal environment;
- expand relations between issuers and financial markets in order to support the implementation of measures to improve the financing of the innovation and growth companies;
- promote the financial innovation with regards savings financial products and develop the asset management industry;
- enhance contribution of the Paris financial market to the european work programs;
- support in a stronger way the Paris financial Place at the international level.