France                              

VII.

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II. BILATERAL TRADE WITH THE PHILIPPINES

In 2006, France was the Philippines' 20th trading partner; 18th as an export market and 20^th as an import source.  Among the EU countries, France ranked as the 5th export market after the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and the UK. For the period 2002-2006, the merchandise balance of trade remained in favor of France .

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V.   MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

• With a population of almost 63 million and a per capita GDP of $30,100. France is the world's 5^th largest economy and accounts for 17% ofWestern Europe's GDP.
  
  

• The information technology (IT) market in France ranks third among Western European nations, trailing only those of the United Kingdom and Germany . The IT Industry is composed of three major segments - computer hardware, packaged software, and IT services. 
  
  

• France has a world-class automotive industry that manufactures nearly 4 million vehicles per year.  As the content of electronics in automobiles increases substantially, the French automotive equipment industry offers a myriad of business opportunities for suppliers of electronic components, speed control radar, and the like.  It is estimated that the French automotive market for semi-conductors alone will be worth $12 billion over the next few years. 
  
  

• France's transportation infrastructure is among the most sophisticated in the world.  The three main entry points for airfreight are the Orly, Charles de Gaulle, and Lyon's Saint-Exupery airports.  France has 12 major seaports, many of which are equipped for container ships.  There is also an extensive highway and river transport system and a state-owned rail network that is among the most comprehensive and technologically advanced in the world.  Four major infrastructure projects are underway in France : the Charles de Gaulle-Roissy airport extension, the  Lyon-Torino transalpine rail link , and the fast train project (TGV-Est) between Paris and Strasbourg , and Nice-Riviera Airport Terminal 2 extension projects.  
  
  

• The French telecommunications industry is a leader in the world market. Globally, France's Alcatel ranks among the top five telecommunications equipment manufacturers.  A number of wireless subscriptions in France exceeded that of wire-line subscriptions, manifesting the substantial presence of mobile phones in the French telecommunications market. 
  
  

• The French market for food products is mature, sophisticated and well served by suppliers from around the world. Additionally, increasing interest in western culture, younger consumers, and changing lifestyles continue to be France's import demand for food products from Asian countries.  
  
  

• Significant market opportunities for consumer food/edible fishery products exist in a number of areas: fruit juices and soft drinks (including flavored spring waters), dried fruits and nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables (particularly tropical and exotic), frozen foods (both ready-to-eat meals and specialty products), snack foods, tree nuts, "ethnic" products, seafood (particularly surimi), innovative dietetic and health products, organic products, soups, breakfast cereals and pet foods and treats. 
  
  

• In addition, niche markets exist in France for candies, chocolate bars, wild rice, and kosher foods that have shown rising demand. Market opportunities for  exporters also exist for  protein meals and other food products.

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1. http://www.cbi.eu - Market Information for the European Union (EU) and selected individual member-countries.  Free registration.
   
   

2. http://europa.eu/index_en.htm - Official website of the European Commission. FREE access.
   
   

3. http://export-help.cec.eu.int - Online service provided by the European Commission to facilitate market access to the European Union for developing countries. Includes information on EU GSP. FREE access.

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