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Cape Town - A delegation of the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI) recently attended a seminar in France, organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Lyon.
Lyon, in the Rhône Alpes region, is the third largest city in France, in terms of population, after Paris and Marseille.
According to Hervé Delabrousse, communication and development manager of FSACCI, the organisation decided to attend the seminar, because part of its activity is to help French businesses settle in South Africa.
This support includes commercial services (qualified contact lists, product-market tests, market exploration, company registration).
This seminar was organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Lyon to present the different African markets, including South Africa, to local entrepreneurs and heads of companies.
Delphine de Beer, FSACCI general manager, spoke at the seminar. The general message of FSACCI was that Africa represents a great exporting and general business opportunity for French businesses, whose expertise and know how are much needed.
As far as South Africa is concerned, De Beer’s message was focused on some of the most attractive industries for French businesses, including but not limited to, the market for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, the mining industry, the energy sector, the agricultural sector and the health and pharmaceuticals industry.
Increased interest in SA
FSACCI has seen an increased interest in the South African market over the last few years.
French-South African relations have been very active in 2012 and 2013, with the French season in South Africa in 2012 and the South African season in France in 2013, but also with the state visit of President Hollande in South Africa in October 2013.
Both presidents reiterated the two countries’ mutual interests, and this can certainly also be witnessed at the bottom line.
The FSACCI’s membership base went from a little over 100 in 2009 to well over 200 in 2013.
As most French CAC40 companies have been present in South Africa for over a decade, more and more SMEs take interest in the South African market and settle here.
This is a boost to foreign investment in South Africa and job creation.
"The long term economic benefits for South Africa of this kind of seminars are undeniable, as it helps bringing more and more companies to South Africa," said Delabrousse.
More upcoming seminars
De Beer takes regular trips to France and always makes a point to visit the local chambers of commerce whenever she is in France.
Such seminars are organised quite regularly by regional chambers in France. There is one planned at the Paris Chamber of Commerce in April, one in Strasbourg in June, as well as a large seminar with representatives of all regional chambers of commerce in June as well.
There are about 250 French companies in South Africa at this point. Most of the CAC40 and more and more SMEs.
Their size varies from a handful of employees to hundreds or thousands, such as L’Oréal, Lafarge, Air Liquide or Alstom to name only a few.
Alstom’s recent winning bid with Prasa will see about 8 000 jobs created. At this point, French companies in SA employ about 30 000 people.
Lyon, in the Rhône Alpes region, is the third largest city in France, in terms of population, after Paris and Marseille.
According to Hervé Delabrousse, communication and development manager of FSACCI, the organisation decided to attend the seminar, because part of its activity is to help French businesses settle in South Africa.
This support includes commercial services (qualified contact lists, product-market tests, market exploration, company registration).
This seminar was organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Lyon to present the different African markets, including South Africa, to local entrepreneurs and heads of companies.
Delphine de Beer, FSACCI general manager, spoke at the seminar. The general message of FSACCI was that Africa represents a great exporting and general business opportunity for French businesses, whose expertise and know how are much needed.
As far as South Africa is concerned, De Beer’s message was focused on some of the most attractive industries for French businesses, including but not limited to, the market for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, the mining industry, the energy sector, the agricultural sector and the health and pharmaceuticals industry.
Increased interest in SA
FSACCI has seen an increased interest in the South African market over the last few years.
French-South African relations have been very active in 2012 and 2013, with the French season in South Africa in 2012 and the South African season in France in 2013, but also with the state visit of President Hollande in South Africa in October 2013.
Both presidents reiterated the two countries’ mutual interests, and this can certainly also be witnessed at the bottom line.
The FSACCI’s membership base went from a little over 100 in 2009 to well over 200 in 2013.
As most French CAC40 companies have been present in South Africa for over a decade, more and more SMEs take interest in the South African market and settle here.
This is a boost to foreign investment in South Africa and job creation.
"The long term economic benefits for South Africa of this kind of seminars are undeniable, as it helps bringing more and more companies to South Africa," said Delabrousse.
More upcoming seminars
De Beer takes regular trips to France and always makes a point to visit the local chambers of commerce whenever she is in France.
Such seminars are organised quite regularly by regional chambers in France. There is one planned at the Paris Chamber of Commerce in April, one in Strasbourg in June, as well as a large seminar with representatives of all regional chambers of commerce in June as well.
There are about 250 French companies in South Africa at this point. Most of the CAC40 and more and more SMEs.
Their size varies from a handful of employees to hundreds or thousands, such as L’Oréal, Lafarge, Air Liquide or Alstom to name only a few.
Alstom’s recent winning bid with Prasa will see about 8 000 jobs created. At this point, French companies in SA employ about 30 000 people.
