Trade between Moscow and France grows every year
Sergei Sobyanin held a meeting with representatives of the Economic Council of the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where they discussed investment projects proposed by representatives of the business community in a round-table format.
“We are working actively with French businesses. We signed a new agreement with Renault on providing incentives in exchange for investment, production expansion and the creation of new, modern and unique car models, including driverless cars,” – the Mayor of Moscow said.
According to Sergei Sobyanin, cooperation in the pharmaceuticals sphere is also actively being developed.
President of the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Emmanuel Quidet noted the similarities in the Russian and French markets.
“It is very nice for us to be here as France is a very significant investor in the Russian market. In 2014-2016, during sanctions, France was in first place in the Russian market,” – he said.
Moscow has taken a series of steps for supporting businesses, such as discounts for investors and developing businesses, subsidizing utility system connections and much more.
“Currently it is not more expensive to build a business in Moscow than it is in any advanced region of our country. And considering that Moscow has the best personnel and an enormous profit market, developing a business is in fact becoming ever more advantageous. This is Moscow’s new industrial policy, directed at creating businesses with a high added value and high-paying jobs. Over the last two years, in 2016 and 2017, we see that trade with France is being restored. In 2016 it increased to 40 percent, and last year, according to preliminary results, growth consisted of around 10 percent.” – noted Sergei Sobyanin.
Moscow’s mayor believes that the capital city has become a region in which the economy is extraordinarily diversified, “There is no oil and gas here, but there are hundreds of thousands of small and medium businesses which secure the overall stability of our economy and quickly adapt to any problematic situations. Currently, in both investment volume and in other indicators connected with trade, production and export, – according to all indicators Moscow’s economy is demonstrating positive tendencies,” – he said.