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France Market

France--Gateway for Your Business in Europe

Some 10,500 kilometers of motorway, 1 million kilometers of roads, 2,000 kilometers of high-speed train (TGV) tracks and 6 international airports -- France has one of the highest performing transportation infrastructures in the world, which makes it an ideal gateway into the European Union, the world’s largest market with 493 million consumers. France is a junction between North Europe, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic seaboard. It is the only country connected to major European economies, including the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. France is at the heart of a market that boasts 27 countries, 493 consumers with high spending power, all within a 2,000 km radius from its capital.
 
France’s central location is optimized by the high quality of its transportation network, an advantage often cited in international studies.
 
France has a dense 10,500 km motorway network and the most extensive road network in Europe, totaling approximately 1 million km.
 
This network is backed by some of the most modern rail facilities in the world. Thanks to its high-speed rail links, France is connected to all major European capitals, with record-time train travel: the center of Paris is only 2h20 away from the center of London, Paris-Brussels takes only 1h20 and Paris-Frankfurt takes less than 4 hours. High-speed TGV trains also connect French cities: Paris is only 50 minutes from Lille, 3h10 from Marseille and 2h20 minutes from Strasbourg.
 
3rd leading destination for inward
France, 3rd leading destination for inward FDI in 2006
 
France has 27 airports, including 6 international airports (Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Marseille Provence, Nice Côte d’Azur and Bâle Mulhouse).
 
France’s central location in the heart of Europe makes it a strategic gateway to the European market, which includes the euro zone, a stable single currency zone comprising 13 different countries, including France.
 
France participates in the free movement of trade and capital in the euro zone. With its technology and regulatory advantages (such as the 2003 law on financial security) and its competitive edge, Paris is currently one of the most attractive financial markets in the world. It is the leading financial market in the euro zone and the second leading host country for international financial institutions. Some 46% of market capital is held by foreign investment institutions, and acquisitions of French companies by international companies is constantly increasing, reaching 58.4 million euros in 2006.
 
the lowest costs
Set-up costs: French business costs among the lowest in OECD countries
 
International investors can also count on reliable and competitive energy and telecommunications networks. The GSM standard, which originated in France, has become a mobile phone standard around the world, adopted by 150 different countries and accounting for 70% of the total market. The broadband Internet market is rapidly expanding in France, with 12.7 million subscribers in 2006. In terms of market penetration, France is ahead of the other leading European countries, such as Germany or Italy, and is practically at the same level as the United Kingdom. By the end of 2007, the entire country will have access to broadband Internet services.
 
France is not only the most visited country in the world (78 million tourists in 2006), but it is also one of the leading destinations for international investors.