By Bao Wanxian (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-07-28 09:06

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (CCIFC) recently received its 1,000th member as more French companies arrive amid increasing bilateral trade between the two countries.

Trade between China and France rose from 9 billion to 32 billion euros over the past decade, and increased 10 percent year-on-year in 2006, when the trade gap was narrowed as imports from France grew faster than exports from the Chinese side.

"There is still high growth potential as France's market share was only 1.4 percent in 2006," said Annick de Kermadec-Bentzmann, president of CCIFC.

French companies specializing in advanced technology, environmental industries, telecoms, financial services and the food industry should be in a good position to enter the Chinese market, Kermadec-Bentzmann added.

Smaller enterprises in particular are coming to China in growing numbers. Seventy-five percent of member companies in the CCFIC have fewer than 250 employees.

In 2006, 100 new members with fewer than 250 employees joined the chamber.

As a result, support for smaller companies is a focus of the CCIFC, which is helping guide firms to search for partners and suppliers. The chamber has also established working groups to discuss business-related topics.

"Looking at the increasing figures of our new members each year, I have every confidence that this trend will continue," said Kermadec-Bentzmann.

(China Daily 07/28/2007 page10)