France and the Bahamas

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Political relations

Although our political relations are not very extensive, French President François Hollande met with the Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie (who at the time was Chair of CARICOM) on the sidelines of the Caribbean Climate Summit in Martinique on 10 May 2015.

French presence

French community: 179 on the consular register (in Miami)
Around 19,000 French tourists visit the Bahamas each year.

Visits

Meeting in Martinique on 10 May 2015 (on the sidelines of the Caribbean Climate Summit) between the President of the French Republic and the Prime Minister of the Bahamas Perry Christie who was Chair of CARICOM at the time.

Ambassadors

  • French Ambassador to the Bahamas (residing in Panama): Mr Brice Roquefeuil (since 2017)
  • Ambassador of the Bahamas to France (residing in London): Accreditation requested for H.E. Mr Ellison Edroy Greenslade.
  • French Honorary Consul to the Bahamas: M. Dominique Lefevre (honconsulfrance at ymail.com)
  • Bahamian Honorary Consul to France: Mr Claude Joseph Le Gris (5 rue de Beaune - 75007 Paris

Economic relations

Exports from France to the Bahamas (2015 - DGT): €85.09 million
Imports from the Bahamas to France (2015 - DGT): €26.61 million

For more information (in French): https://www.tresor.economie.gouv.fr/Ressources/Pays/bahamas

Trade with the Bahamas remains limited and a surplus for France of €58 million was recorded in 2016. French exports consist mainly of aircraft and alcoholic beverages.

The Bahamas ranks 137th on the list of France’s trading partners. In the Central and South America region, the Bahamas is France’s 18th-biggest customer (2018).

Club Méditerranée, which formerly had three resorts on the islands, now only has one. Rubis, a company specializing in storing and distributing oil products, took over the petrol station network and the sale of aircraft fuel from US company Chevron in 2011. Soletanche Bachy is working with the largest local construction firm (Mosko Group) on a number of projects.

Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

Bouygues has begun preparing a tourist island for MSC Cruises.

Updated: June 2020