Doing Business in France

Syllabus of the Subject - Doing Business in France. Paris.

1. Introduction to the French Republic (European Union)
2. French Economy
3. Doing Business in Paris
4. France: one of the political and economic leaders of the European Union
5. French Foreign Trade
6. Political, economic and cultural relations with the African Francophone countries
7. Strategic Partnership between Africa and France
8. Strategic importance of the Francophonie
9. French Foreign direct investment (FDI)
10. Main French Companies
11. Information and communication technologies
12. Case Studies:
    1. Michelin
    2. Alstom
    3. Essilor
    4. L’Oréal
    5. Danone
    6. Carrefour
13. Access to the French Market
14. Business Plan for France

The objectives of the subject “Doing Business in the French Republic” are the following:

1. To analyse the strengths of the French Economy and Foreign Trade
2. To evaluate the business opportunities in the French Market
3. To analyse the trade relations of France with the country of the student
4. To know France Free Trade Agreements (FTA) as a member of the European Union
5. To understand the political and economic importance of France in the EU
6. To analyse the Africa-France Strategic Partnership
7. To develop a business plan for the French Market

Description of the Subject (Online Learning): Doing Business in France:

The French Republic (Europe)

1. Capital: Paris
2. Official Language: French
3. Area: 643,801 square kilometres
4. Population: 67 million people
5. Type of Government: Semi‑presidential Republic
6. Borders of France: Monaco, Italy, Spain, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland
7. France has a maritime border with the United Kingdom (submarine tunnel)
8. Main religion of France: Catholicism (Christianity)
9. France belongs to the Western Christian Civilisation (European Economic Area)
10. Abolition of Slavery in France: 1848 (Victor Schoelcher)

Economy of France.

1. The French Republic is a highly developed market being
   1. Fifth largest economy in the world by nominal gross domestic product
   2. Eighth largest economy in purchasing power
2. France is the third largest economy in the European Union (behind Germany and the United Kingdom)
3. GDP (nominal): 1,944 billions of euros
4. GDP per capita: 27,100 euros
5. France is the most visited country in the world (82 million tourists per year)
6. The economy of the French Republic is heavily based on services (76% of gross domestic product, 75% of the population)
7. Decentralised EU Agency in France:
   1. Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO): Angers

French Foreign Trade.

1. France ranks second in the world regarding exports of services and agricultural products
2. The French Republic makes 70% of the foreign trade with its European Union (EU) partners
3. French foreign trade has a surplus in the trade balance of the export products
4. Germany imports 14% of France's exports, followed by Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland and China
5. Of the total of imported products, 16% originated in Germany followed by Belgium, Italy, China, Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland and Japan
6. Main French Exports are machinery, mechanical appliances, vehicles, Air navigation and pharmaceutical products
7. The French Republic is the second most attractive European country for the Foreign direct investment (FDI)
8. As a member of the European Union, France is the beneficiary of the EU Free trade agreements with Algeria, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Korea Korea, India, Mexico, MERCOSUR, Chile, etc. besides the Customs Union with Turkey
9. Main French Port is Le Havre

International Economic Relations of France

1. European Union
2. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
3. Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
4. International Chamber of Commerce (CCI)
5. Inter-American Development Bank (non-borrower)
6. Asia-Europe Economic Meeting (ASEM)
7. World Bank
8. Commission of the Indian Ocean (Reunion Islands)
9. International Organisation of the Francophonie
10. World Trade Organisation (WTO)
11. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
12. International Monetary Fund
13. Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
14. Group of States of the Council of Europe Convention against the corruption (GRECO)
15. Regional Cooperation Council
16. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
17. African Union
18. ...

France is also an associate / observer country:

1. Association of Caribbean States (AEC)
2. Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
3. Council of the Baltic Sea States
4. Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
5. Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC)

Examples of the subject - Foreign Trade and Business in France:

Pierre Teilhard of Chardin

(c) EENI- Business School & Hispano-African University of International Business