JCDecaux enters fast growing Azerbaijan market with Advertising columns in Baku

Paris, 21 May 2012 – JCDecaux SA (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, has installed its first advertising columns with integrated phone/internet in Baku, just in time for the 2012 Eurovision (the most popular music show in the world) starting tomorrow in Azerbaijan's capital.

Azerbaijan is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and Baku, with 5 million people on the Caspian sea, is booming. The beautiful City of Baku with its Old Town which dates back to the sixth century is also well known for its architecture. A lot of new buildings including the Zaha Hadid-designed Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre are under construction. The columns designed by the French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte are blending very well into the European-style architecture of this Oriental city.

Jean-François Decaux, Co-Chief Executive Officer of JCDecaux, said: “When I first visited Baku a few years ago I realised the tremendous potential of this amazing city. It is a great honour for JCDecaux to have been selected as a long term street furniture partner for Baku and the timely installation (6 weeks after contract signing) of the first advertising columns just before the start of the 2012 Eurovision song contest is the best proof of our strong commitment to make Baku our showcase city for the Caucasus region. We are also supporting the 2012 Eurovision with a poster campaign at the best locations in 26 European Capital Cities such as Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Prague, Oslo ... “.