The visit by the director and former managing director of Yves Rocher, Jacques Rocher, was in response to links developed by Mt Romance Australia founder, Steve Birkbeck, who is well respected by the French-based industry.

This has resulted in strong friendships and the opening of avenues of communication that could lead to the Great Southern benefitting well into the future.

Mr Rocher was given a civic reception where he rekindled a friendship with Albany Mayor Milton Evans who toured France in November last year.

Mr Evans visited the heart of the perfume industry in Grasse after first signing a friendship agreement with the Mayor of Peronne in the Somme Valley to acknowledge Albany’s WW1 links with France.

“Albany has been forging bonds of friendship with France for many years,” Mr Evans said.

“It is exciting to be a part of the opportunities that are evolving for Albany as a result of these new connections and old.”

Mr Evans said there were opportunities to grow business through product exchanges, tourism through reciprocal visitations and cultural exchanges, and to attract tourism funding.

“Mount Romance has developed a business based on the global fragrance industry and to date has earned in excess of $130 million in export income for our State and region,” Mr Evans said.

“This is significant for a relatively small region such as ours and goes a long way to identifying us as a fragrance hub, much like Grasse in France is identified as the world home of perfume.”

Mr Evans said that by visiting Grasse last year, he was able to learn more about the global cosmetic and fine fragrance industry and how Albany was becoming closely connected.

This was helped by the newly established Presidents Circle involving Mr Birkbeck and Mr Rocher’s pioneering environmental work with “Plant for the Planet”.

Mr Evans said the visit could lead to greater links between Albany and France with hopes of building on tourism, business and cultural exchanges.