France has seized the opportunity presented by the UK's Brexit vote to re-direct companies doing business in Europe to its door. The wooing has intensified and, besides trade and investment discussions, the French have tossed in opportunities to assist South African companies aiming for business not only in Europe but also in the Francophone regions of Africa, where the language barrier has been a great obstacle. For the longest time, the UK has been the point of entry for South African businesses scouting for opportunities in Europe; at least 200 local companies have branches in the UK. Of the 20000 foreign companies operating in France, fewer than 0.1% are South African. "This has to change," said Muriel Pénicaud, CEO of Business France and France's ambassador for international investment. While South Africa can boast only 20 firms on French soil, of the top 40 companies listed in France, 29 have subsidiaries in South Africa. These include petroleum brand Total. French brands are ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.