François de Ricolfis, sous-directeur du développement international des entreprises27 novembre 2007

Briefing by French Ministry of

Economy, Finance and Employment on its experience in promoting and developing foreign trade in services for French companies

DGTPE : what does it stand for ?

Directorate for Treasury and Economic Policy

A part of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Employment

Responsible inter alia for

Trade negociations

Trade promotion

Export credit policy

Strong interest for trade in services

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Summary of presentation

The framework of policies :

large opportunities

Specific challenges

French experience

Getting organized for trade negotiations

Providing support to companies

Conclusions

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TRADE IN SERVICES : Opportunities/challenges

Opportunities

An large share of world trade (growing about 5 % a year)

France a major player (number 4 on last years average)

Services are a source of growth, of employment

Services are high tech (links with Intellectual property rights)

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TRADE IN SERVICES : Opportunities/challenges

Challenges in promoting trade in services

Diversity of services (eg tourism versus banking)

Trade in services means dealing with sensitive issues (movement of persons, investing abroad)

Policies usually focus on goods : need to adopt new set of mind

Practical issues (quality of datas…)

Necessary to adress these issues in order to devise efficient policies

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French policy and experience in promoting trade in services

Getting organized for trade negotiations.

A large part of promoting trade is negotiating access to markets : WTO round, bilateral agreements

Good results rely on

Establishing solid relationships with the relevant professionals

Getting information (key role of trade missions in Embassies)

Developing strong interdepartement cooperation (the french committee for european affairs/SGAE)

Working with EU members and Commission

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French policy and experience in promoting trade in services French policy and experience in promoting trade in services

Providing support to companies

Defining a sectoral strategy for services export (a new policy)

Example : law professionnals

Tools for trade promotion

Public agency (ubifrance) Trade missions in Embassies Help of networks such as chambers of commerce

Will provide : information, help for installing in a country, contact with local authorities, business contacts..

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French policy and experience in promoting trade in services French policy and experience in promoting trade in services

Providing support to companies (continued)

Adressing risks

Support for market survey expenses (insurance against failure with risk sharing)

Adapting export credit insurance to trade in services (eg maintenance contracts, ingeneering)

a new scheme to provide cover for intellectual property right : will provide cover for non payement by licence holder

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Conclusions

What is key :

Sharing information and working as a network

Bringing together professionals

Be patient…

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