Moscow plans to increase exports of goods and services to France

Expert session “Entering the French Market: Export Instructions” was held Kalibr Technopark. It was organized by the Moscow Export Center, a subordinate organization of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development of Moscow city.

The meeting was attended by French and Russian businessmen, politicians and experts. France is one of the priorities of Moscow export. In 2018, Moscow ranked second among the regions of Russia in terms of non-primary non-energy exports to France - its share in the total volume of Russia's NOE to France was 15.2%

“At the end of 2018, the total volume of Moscow non-resource non-energy exports to France in 2018 increased by 13.2% compared to the same period in 2017 and amounted to $ 127.3 million,” Kirill Il'ichev, general director of Moscow Export Center said. “We plan to further increase export volumes, and for this purpose, we are selecting areas that would be of interest to French business.”

In his speech, Kirill Illichev spoke about the measures for supporting Moscow companies in exporting the Moscow Export Center (MEC), as well as about the work of the Moscow School of Exporter - the educational project, when entrepreneurs are trained in the basics of foreign economic activity (FEA), effective participation in exhibitions, marketing and communications in foreign economic activity, legal support, financial management and taxation, customs clearance and logistics.

In connection with the recent tragic fire in Notre Dame de Paris, the meeting began with a moment of silence. Kirill Ilyichev stressed that Moscow experts in the field of architecture and construction are ready to help in the aftermath of the fire and the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris.

First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Sergey Katasonov, General Director of Kalibr JSC Sergey Sevastianov and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kalibr JSC Mikhail Kogan welcomed the participants of the meeting.

One of the key speakers of the expert session was influential French politician, President of YPDB Conseil consulting company, Yves Pozzo di Borgo. He spoke about how consulting helps to solve controversial issues when exporting to France, as well as about the experience of YPDB Conseil in projects between France and Russia.

Following this speech, Kirill Il'ichev signed with Yves Pozzo di Borgo a Memorandum of Cooperation between Moscow Export Center and the consulting company YPDB Conseil, as well as the agreement with the partner of PRUGNEAU-SHAUB IP law firm Olivier Patt. These two documents deduce consulting support and legal protection of the interests of metropolitan exporters when entering the French market at a new level.

In the second part of the expert session, French and Russian experts shared their experiences and discussed specific cases of Moscow exporters. For instance, the former Minister of Urban Affairs of France, and now the Deputy Director General of Mosinzhproekt JSC for International Relations and Promising Objects, Maurice Leroy told about the similarities and differences in the implementation of urban programs in the framework of the Greater Paris and Big Moscow projects, and also about the features of the promotion of food in the French market and participation in French exhibitions.

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Since 2016, the capital has a program for organizing collective booths at Russian and foreign exhibitions under the common brand “Made in Moscow”, which opens up access to international markets for capital companies. The Moscow government finances up to 100% of the capital producers' expenses for participation in Russian and foreign events, and also organizes business meetings for Moscow companies with buyers, investors and international companies.