Doing Business in France - International Trade Club
Transcription
Doing Business in France - International Trade Club
DOING BUSINESS IN FRANCE DR MARK ORME 6 NOVEMBER 2014 INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD 1 Overview • General Introduction and Facts about France How much do you know? • Business Etiquette in France • Top Tips for Doing Business in France • Some French Business Phrases INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD 3 4 France: it regions and people The Holy Grail How much do you know? The population of France today is: (a) 46 million (b) 66 million (c) 86 million France: it regions and people The Holy Grail How much do you know? French is spoken in: a) 5 countries in the world b) 18 countries in the world c) 40 countries in the world France: it regions and people The Holy Grail How much do you know? French is the language of: a) 2 countries in the European Union b) 3 countries in the European Union (France, Belgium & Luxembourg) c) 4 countries in the European Union France: it regions and people The Holy Grail How much do you know? The three biggest cities in France are: a) Paris – Toulouse – Marseille b) Paris – Bordeaux – Lille c) Paris – Marseille – Lyon France: it regions and people The Holy Grail How much do you know? France: Some Statistics • The total surface area of France is 674,843 squared kms – includes Metropolitan France and overseas departments and territories • The surface area of Metropolitan France is 551, 695 squared kms France: it regions and people The Holy Grail Geographical Divisions in France • Metropolitan France = 22 regions (“régions”) and 96 departments (“départements”) – roughly equivalent to counties in the UK; • 327 “arrondissements” (districts); • 3,694 “cantons” (constituencies); • 36,433 “communes” (district; parish) France: it regions and people The Holy Grail French Regions outside Metropolitan France 5 overseas regions – “Régions d’outre mer”: • • • • Guadeloupe – French West Indies French Guiana – South America Martinique – French West Indies Réunion – Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique and Madagascar • Mayotte – north of Madagascar France: it regions and people The Holy Grail A Few Observations of the French People • French people are patriotic – 83% of French people choose to spend their holidays in France; • French cuisine is seen to be of the highest quality – les cuisses de grenouille, les escargots, la tarte tatin, with regional specialities • Work-life balance France: it regions and people The Holy Grail Famous French Names • Fashion Designers Yves Saint-Laurent, Christian Dior • Writers / Philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Simone de Beauvoir • Cinema invented in Paris in 1895 by Louis Lumiere • Sport Le Tour de France, Le Parkour France: it regions and people The Holy Grail Famous French Names and Accolades • 1783 – Montgolfier brothers invent the hot-air balloon • Blaise Pascal – invented the digital calculator • Louise Braille – created braille • TGV world speed record – 357.2 mph (3 April 2007) France: it regions and people The Holy Grail A Few Interesting Facts about France • France has roughly the same population as the UK, but it is a far bigger country • France is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually • France was one of the founding members of the European Union and the United Nations • French is one of three official ‘procedural languages’ of the European Union (with German and English) French Business Culture • Formality • Use of the French Language http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrw5YgWC0rs • Business Etiquette – Meeting and Greeting • Business Etiquette – Cuisine • Communication style • How to negotiate • Dress Codes INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD French Business Culture • Punctuality is a fairly relaxed affair • Use formal titles and, if speaking in French, stick to the formal “vous”, not the informal “tu” • Avoid personalising discussions • Avoid exaggeration • Successful negotiations are based on logic and having a clear rationale INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD Ten Top Tips for Doing Business in France 1. Be formal until and unless invited otherwise by your French host 2. Arrive on time for business meetings but do not expect an apology if your French host arrives late 3. “Dress to impress” 4. Be logical and rational in your business proposal 5. Avoid personalising business transactions Ten Top Tips for Doing Business in France 6. If a stalemate ensues, try to approach your proposal from a different perspective 7. Avoid hyperbole 8. Adopt a direct, probing questioning style 9. Give serious answers to serious questions 10. Do not try to sell yourself too much More General Tips • Don’t hide your hands while eating – elbows on the table are acceptable in France! • When travelling on trains / buses you may need to “composter” [validate] your ticket. Not doing so can be costly • Always carry identification French Business Phrases • Bonjour / Bonsoir, Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle • Je m’appelle Monsieur / Madame / Mademoiselle / Professeur / Docteur • Voici ma carte • Je suis enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance. • Comment vous appelez-vous? • Ça va bien? • Oui, ça va très bien, merci • Au revoir INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD Practice • Bonjour / Bonsoir, Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle • Je m’appelle Monsieur / Madame / Mademoiselle / Professeur / Docteur • Voici ma carte • Je suis enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance. • • • • Comment vous appelez-vous? Ça va bien? Oui, ça va très bien, merci Au revoir INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD Phrases • Excusez-moi, Madame / Monsieur, Mademoiselle • Je ne parle pas l’anglais • Je parle un peu le français • Désolé, Madame / Monsieur, Mademoiselle, mais je ne comprends pas INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD Phrases – encore! • Merci beaucoup, Monsieur / Madame, Mademoiselle • S’il vous plaît • Au Revoir INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD Doing Business in France Merci beaucoup, Mesdames et Messieurs, de votre attention Avez-vous des questions ? INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR THE REAL WORLD