A French regional economic development agency with a business incubator in Atlanta is using its global network to offer a broader range of business services to companies all over the world.

Enterprise Rhone-Alpes International, known as ERAI, represents the Rhone Alps region in southeastern France. Established in 1987, the organization has 29 offices in 24 countries promoting French exports, recruiting investment and helping small and medium-sized French companies expand abroad.

In 1998 ERAI opened its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta along with an incubator that has helped about 35 French firms launch U.S. operations. The agency put an office in Philadelphia in January 2009 and aims to open one in San Francisco in November targeting the software and gaming industries, said Rose Catherin-Mortazavi, ERAI's U.S. director.

As they developed an extensive network in countries from India and Italy to Morocco and Mexico, ERAI's leaders found that companies didn't necessarily need a strong connection to France to benefit from their advisory services, Ms. Catherin-Mortazavi said.

"We said, 'We have so much experience and we have so many business connections in our different countries, why don't we send business to each other?'" she told GlobalAtlanta.

The Atlanta office, for example, is currently helping a Japanese firm with its U.S. business.

"They have an office in France, but sales and product design and marketing is all in Japan," Ms. Catherin-Mortazavi said, adding that newer ERAI offices in Vietnam and Brazil are providing services to companies whose connection to France is as tangential as attending a trade show there.

Even with the broader focus, ERAI isn't abandoning its mission of promoting Rhone Alps. More connections globally, even those not routed through France, mean more exposure for her region, Ms. Catherin-Mortazavi said. Core functions like the incubator and coaching services for French firms will be unaffected by the new push.

"We're not changing about the way we're working; it's just an addition to what we're currently doing," she said.

The Rhone Alps region is anchored by Lyon, France's second largest city and the country's hub for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Other strong sectors in Lyon include clean technology, environment and renewable energy, plastics and technical textiles.

The Atlanta incubator is operating to capacity with about 12 French companies, Ms. Catherin-Mortazavi said.

Compared to seven in Atlanta, ERAI has two employees in Philadelphia. The office there focuses on promoting French biotechnology firms in the Northeast and provides an inexpensive location from which to help fashion and interior design companies reach New York.

The new San Francisco office will provide access to the most advanced high-tech market in the country, Ms. Catherin-Mortazavi said.

"Georgia is not quite there yet" with regard to technology, she said. "California is a market that if you're not there, it is very difficult to reach."

ERAI is looking to hire a bilingual project manager in Atlanta.

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Caroline Gay-Para at caroline.gaypara@erai.org.

For more information on ERAI, click here.

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