“It’s time to dare to go international”: these were the words of Franck Riester, the government’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, at the Business France conference, wishing to strengthen French exports.
On Thursday, March 18, at the Business France conference, the government’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Franck Riester announced the direction his policy would take in the coming months, towards greater international openness and promotion of exports.
The export recovery plan has been ramped up with measures that will be in place by 2020, explained Franck Riester. Everything is mobilized to help you go further in export. We must seize this opportunity to use these financial and human resources. There are markets that are moving. We are convinced that there are tremendous opportunities at this time.
Accompanied by Christophe Lecourtier, CEO of Business France, Pedro Novo, Executive Director of BPIFrance, and Guillaume de Seynes, President of the Strategic Committee for the Fashion and Luxury sector, several measures were put in place to encourage luxury brands to follow these guidelines.
The French government detailed its support solutions during the Business France conference, such as the Export Relief Voucher, which will support French SMEs and ETIs wishing to enter new markets. Franck Riester also announced the implementation of 15,000 vouchers, which can be combined with the aid already granted by the regions.
These vouchers offer to cover 50% of the expenses incurred by companies in their international deployment. These aids are 1,500€ for accompaniments on markets, 2,000€ for individual accompaniments, and 2,500€ to participate in a French pavilion on a foreign trade show.
“Even in the darkest period, last year, we did not remain inert. The French Fashion Corner operation in the United States was emblematic of this new offer with 55 companies from the ready-to-wear, footwear, and jewelry industries that we’re able to be in contact with potential customers. A total of 200 companies went abroad with the different schemes,” says Christophe Lecourtier.
“We are accelerating with the recovery plan. We will continue to set up meetings with buyers, appointments will be digitalized, for example on the theme of ethical and eco-responsible fashion,” he adds.
In addition, in order to encourage the recruitment of young people seeking to engage in international volunteer work in companies, a VIE voucher has been set up. Business France has also announced the development of specific measures for luxury start-ups, as well as the creation of a catalog listing European retailers. The plurality of new digital and physical tools deployed should make it easier for French brands to expand internationally.
“We have seen a shift to the dynamics of Asia, which has come through the crisis faster than we have and generated extremely varied and important opportunities,” analyzes Guillaume de Seynes, president of the CSF Fashion and Luxury. “France benefits from a pre-eminence in our sector, which we saw in Paris during the last Fashion Week, where other competing markets have suffered from the context”.
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