The round table, which was held online, the prospects for cooperation between business communities of Russia and France were discussed.
As Mr. Suren Vardanyan, the Vice President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted, "France has been a key partner of our country for many years. Therefore, information about the current state of its economy and how to enter this promising market is important and interesting for entrepreneurs".
The Chairman of the Commission on Foreign Economic Cooperation with partners in France, Mr. Igor Shpynov, in his welcoming speech, said that in August of last year, it was decided to regard 2021 as the Year of Cross Cooperation between Russia and France. He outlined the possibility of participation in the formation of the “road map” for events, organized for this business program. According to an expert, France takes 6th place among the countries, investing in the economy of Russia.
More than 120 thousand Russians work for French enterprises, located in the Russian Federation. In this regard, the Head of the Public Structure of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that the participation of the Chamber, as well as other interested organizations in the Cross Year of Cooperation will contribute to the further development of bilateral relations between our countries in the economic, cultural and educational fields.
Mr. Mikhail Makarov, the Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the French Republic, supported his colleague and stressed that although France is in the 6th place among countries, investing in Russia, that it, however, is a leader among the rest of the European countries. The speaker outlined the main tasks that the Trade Mission of Russia in France has set for itself. First of all, it is the support of non-resource export (and not only products, but also services), attraction of investments and also technological cooperation. Among the traditional areas of cooperation between our countries, Mr. Makarov named nuclear power, aviation and space industries. According to him, there are lucrative prospects for cooperation in the segments, related to innovations: artificial intelligence, laser medicine, waste processing, et al.
The Head of organizational and analytical department of the Headquarters for the Protection of Business and the Project Office of Moscow, Mr. Sergei Efremov, spoke about why it makes sense for entrepreneurs to "go to France". He noted that France actively supports research and development and everything connected with high technologies. In addition, cooperation with France provides an opportunity to enter the markets of Africa, Switzerland and Luxembourg. According to Mr.Efremov, investments in the French economy are almost unlimited (exceptions are only strategic industries); there is no currency control. The main forms of organization are very similar: in France, there are analogues of LLC, Public Joint Stock companies, etc.
In addition, the speaker highlighted some features of French labour law, noting its flexibility. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that workers' rights in the country are well protected; for example, it is almost impossible to dismiss a person with an indefinite contract. Furthermore, company strategies included periodic strikes by employees, which are quite frequent in the country.
The President of the Franco-Russian - Economic Chamber (CERF), Didier Chaudezag and Maurice Leroy, the former Minister of the French Republic and advisor to the Deputy Mayor of Moscow on urban policy and construction, outlined the main areas of cooperation between Russia and France. Among them are digital technologies, in which Moscow is ahead of most cities and countries of the world and Europe, recycling, technologies of a "smart city".
Representatives of professional guilds of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared their plans to enter the French market. The Chairman of the Guild of Jewelry Exporters, for example, Mr. Alexey Shcherbina, said that Russian jewelers would like to take part in the Fashion Days, which are held at the Russian Embassy, and also shared their plans to create a Russian jewelry house in France.
A member of the Guild, Mr. Sergei Kostin, who makes exclusive jewelry from alloys, which he himself developed, asked for assistance in such matters as customs clearance, obtaining permits for temporary export of items, as well as the sale of jewelry during exhibitions.
Mr. Makarov, in turn, expressed his readiness to provide full support to the participants of the public structure of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and suggested thinking about opening a showroom on the territory of the Russian Federation’s trade mission.
In addition, the President and CEO of CIFAL, Mr. Gilles Remy and CEO of ECOFOUR LLC (St. Petersburg), Mr. Alexander Moiseev, introduced their companies and products at the round table. The Head of the Moscow technopark “Calibre”, Ms. Christina Zarubina, described the main activities of the organization, and also announced the willingness to attract French startups on its territory.
The participants asked questions of interest and received all the contacts, with which they can continue to seek help and support from both trade missions and the Chambers of Commerce of both countries.