During the Franco-British Chamber’s “Rentrée Reception” on the 24th of September 2020, the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Department for International Trade of the British Embassy in France signed a historic agreement on a Joint Action
Plan in the presence of the UK Ambassador to France, Lord Edward Llewellyn and the President of the Chamber, Thierry Drilhon.
From the 1st of January 2021, the European Union and the UK will enter a new era of economic relations which will be strongly impacted by the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This partnership gives hope and guarantees a degree of collaboration between the two countries. Thierry Drilhon said :
“This partnership agreement is historic because it supports and accelerates Cross-Channel economic relations, which represent nearly 100 billion euros each year. Based on a 10-year vision and a precise action plan, it will light the way for companies in the fiscal, legal, logistical, technological, human resources and administrative fields. At a time when geopolitical relations between states remain complex with an unprecedented health crisis, companies are joining forces to create collective intelligence.”
Find below the Joint Action Plan:
DIT France and the FBCCI will build on existing collaboration to work as strategic partners to meet the challenge of economic recovery; capitalize on the huge potential presented by innovation, technology and clean growth; maximize market access while identifying and tackling barriers to business; increase the appetite for bilateral trade and investment; and support companies in practical ways.
As part of an ambitious and evolving programme, DIT France and the FBCCI will:
- Ensure FBCCI members are updated regularly on bilateral and international issues – including the UK’s exit from the EU and its implications – through working together on three Ambassador’s briefing breakfasts each year.
- Deliver a programme of technical roundtables on the UK’s new relationship with the EU: covering issues like market access, border and customs controls and immigration. This will help to ensure a solid connection between business and policy-making; and that commercial activity can continue with as little disruption as possible in the run up to and following the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020.
- Support new business and maximize the UK’s profile and impact across the whole of France through delivering regional commercial activities that draw on the expertise, contacts and networks of FBCCI members based outside Paris and Ile-de-France.
- Increase support for small and medium-sized (SME) exporters through delivering a webinar series on the practicalities of doing business in France; and through offering practical guidance, advice, networking and support services via FBCCI’s Business Connect and DIT’s Export Growth teams.
- Jointly build commercial activities and events around VIP visits to France, including by British Ministers with industrial or commercial responsibilities.
- Provide thought leadership and an analytic base to underpin economic recovery and new areas of commercial exchange, through further development and promotion of the Cross-Channel Institute think tank and the tools and resources it produces.
- Collaborate on events and activities under DIT Europe’s prioritised Clean Growth and Innovation campaigns – promoting UK industrial strengths; stimulating new cross-Channel collaborations; and delivering new commercial opportunities in areas like green technology, renewable energy, life sciences and AI.
- Celebrate export and investment success and encourage more companies to develop business in France and the UK, through launching an annual Business Awards in 2021.
- Bring companies together and stimulate new business ventures, through organising and delivering a trade mission to London in the first half of 2021.
- Work together to use major bilateral and international trade fairs and events to maximize the return for Franco-British business – including London Tech Week; Viva Technology; and the UK’s hosting of COP26 in November 2021.
