All of the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry’s services are more than ever mobilized for our companies - large groups and small businesses - because economic diplomacy is an essential component of France’s influence.

Promoting international development for French companies and the country’s attractiveness is now an integral part of the road map for all our ambassadors.

To meet the challenges posed to companies by emerging global issues, the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has set up a Globalization, Development, and Partnerships General Directorate (DGM) and equipped it with a structure specifically intended to contribute to our businesses’ influence.

To carry out its missions in support of businesses, the Foreign Affairs Ministry benefits from its position as a “control tower” abroad. This position allows it to develop global and political expertise which it can mobilize based on bilateral (official visits, for example) and multilateral schedules.

In this framework, the ministry contributes to orienting public policies supporting businesses: support mechanism for major contracts, Ubifrance’s mandate, financial support for companies (COFACE guarantees, Emerging Markets Reserve, Private Sector Aid Fund...), support for innovative international small businesses and developing competition hubs.

The action taken to benefit to companies aims to maximize the support provided by various participants in “the French export team,” in particular, the information network and strike force composing our foreign stations. Team spirit and the constant search for synergies apply at all levels.

It is in this spirit that the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry supports bridge-building between universities, the research and corporate worlds, in order be able to meet the needs expressed by some countries.

The Ministry has particularly strengthened, for this purpose, its scholarship program with corporate partners (“Quai d’Orsay-Enterprise” program) and international cooperation programs that are placing greater emphasis on corporate partnerships (vocational training, French pavilion in universal exhibitions...).

The business support center’s strategy is part of the context of new international challenges: access to water, energy, health care, nutrition, combating climate change, pollution, pandemics...

The ministry provides particularly extensive monitoring of strategic sectors such as nuclear power, space, aeronautics, transportation, and biotechnology, in close collaboration with acknowledged stakeholders in these areas. It is a question of both supporting exports and contributing to the influence (mobility, trade, innovation) of industry and participating in developing relevant national strategies.

Online publication: July 13, 2010