LIMOGES, FRANCE: Budding Web designers, if you are keen to learn about the latest in Web design techniques and technologies, Limoges is the place to be!

Around 145 leading Web designers -- making up 40 teams from 14 countries, have converged at the Ester, Technopole, at Limoges, a three-hour train journey from Paris, to compete for developing the best Web design of the world inside 24 hours at the Webdesign International Festival (WIF) 2008.

Welcoming the delegates and the teams at WIF 2008, Gerard Vandenbroucke, Vice president, Limousin Regional Council, said that the Limousin region needed to open up and look at developing new links. He said, "We need to understand and take actions for as many new ideas as possible."

Vandenbroucke added that Limousin was no longer cut off from other parts of the world. "The links with other international countries is now available," he noted. "We should have all the necessary connections to link up with all areas. The human potential, wealth of our areas, etc., all will be linked with high-speed networks."

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Focusing on to the WIF 2008, Vandenbroucke said: "What will start now is the visible part of the many areas that we have created over the years. We also have the support of the Pole Excellence e'Design, Limousin Expansion." He informed the audience of the preselection programs undertaken by India, Brazil and Tunisia, etc."

He added: "WIF is a serious contest. It is also a very specific form of freedom, along with relaxation. This makes it an exceptional event. It is also a very friendly way of sharing intelligence."

Etienne Mineur, WIF 2008 chairman, expressed the importance of attending conferences as it enabled people to learn of several different things, see new ideas and ccreations, etc.

He said: "Design festivals allow us to see lot of creativity and diversity. We get to see new technologies, new range of areas to see what's happening in the Web design area."