France Economy and Business

• GDP: US$2.56 trillion (2007).
• Main exports: Machinery, equipment, aircraft, chemicals and beverages.
• Main imports: Vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics and chemicals.
• Main trade partners: Germany, Italy, UK, USA and The Netherlands.

France has the sixth-largest economy in the world, after the USA, Japan, Germany, China and the UK, and has an annual per capita income of over US$32,000. It has a wide industrial and commercial base, covering everything from agriculture to light and heavy industrial concerns, advanced technology and a burgeoning service sector. 

France is also Western Europe's leading agricultural nation with over half of its land area devoted to farming and the country is famously one of the world's leading wine producers. 

French companies are prominent in many industries, particularly steel, motor vehicles, aircraft, mechanical and electrical engineering, textiles, chemicals and food processing. In advanced industrial sectors, France has one of the world's largest nuclear power industries, which meets nearly three-quarters of the country's energy requirements, and is a world leader in computing and telecommunications. 

The service sector is dominated by tourism, which has long been a major foreign currency earner. 

In 2007, economic growth was at 2.3%, with a relatively high unemployment rate of 8.3%.

Businesspeople should wear conservative clothes. Prior appointments are expected and the use of business cards is usual. While a knowledge of French is a distinct advantage in business dealings, it is considered impolite to start a conversation in French and then have to revert to English. Business meetings tend to be formal and business decisions are taken only after lengthy discussion. Business entertaining is usually in restaurants.

Office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0900-1200, 1400-1800.

Paris is the world's leading conference city. Also in demand are the Riviera towns of Nice and Cannes; other centres are Lyon, Strasbourg and Marseille. The Business Travel Club (CFTAR) is a government-sponsored association of cities, departments, hotels, convention centres and other organisations interested in providing meeting facilities and incentives. Enquiries should be made through the French Government Tourist Office, which has a special department for business travel in several cities.

Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris
27 avenue de Friedland, 75382 Paris, Cedex 08, France
Tel: 0820 012 112.
Website: www.ccip.fr

Assemblée des Chambres Françaises de Commerce et d'Industrie
46 avenue de la Grande Armée, 75016 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4069 3700.
Website: www.acfci.cci.fr