Supporting French businesses abroad Since the launch of the “France Relance” economic recovery plan on September 3 2020, support for exports has been a priority for national investment. The ministry is therefore committed to supporting the internationalization of French companies by facilitating their access to international markets through its network of services abroad. France Foreign trade Economic diplomacy Published on : September 25th 2020 Updated on : March 20th 2026 Dans cette rubrique The ministry in action Action for peace and respect for human rights Action within the UN Security, Disarmament and Non-proliferation Emergency Humanitarian Action Protecting Human Rights Gender equality: a priority for France Commitment to international justice Digital Diplomacy Promoting a sovereign Europe The European Political Community Defence Europe France and the European Union European matters Promoting French businesses and France’s attractiveness Attracting foreign investment Attracting international students Destination France: The recovery and transformation plan for tourism Promoting French expertise in sport Supporting French exporters Supporting researchers and scientific cooperation globally The French Government’s Trade Policy Ensuring the presence of French culture Cultural Diplomacy Defending Francophonie and the French language Franco-German cooperation Supporting the cultural and creative industries Contributing to sustainable, balanced globalization Addressing the climate and environmental emergency Combating global social inequality External action of local government bodies Summits and global issues Regional strategies Exports are key to the growth of our economy and our companies. In 2018, a total of 125,283 companies exported. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs promotes the international development of French companies and supports government action focused on competitiveness, growth and jobs. In diplomatic posts abroad, ambassadors and their advisers are committed to making it easier for our businesses to access international markets. In 2017, diplomatic posts were working hard on 6,821 projects throughout the network to promote exports among public and private decision-makers. They facilitated the signature of some 100 major contracts (worth over €10 million). In addition, Business France, which is co-run by the Foreign Ministry, supported nearly 11,000 companies in 2018. The COVID-19 epidemic triggered an unprecedented drop in economic activity and global trade, resulting in a sharp decline in exports (see detailed foreign trade results for the first half of 2020 here). The essential support required by companies to export, particularly SMEs and mid-caps, is an integral part of the France Relance economic recovery plan set out by the Prime Minister on 3 September with €247 million earmarked for export assistance. The plan on the Government website: https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/european-aspects-of-france-s-recovery-plan Cutting-edge economic sectors, an asset for France: supporting strategic sectors Priority sectors for supporting French exports International Corporate Volunteering