Quebec-France economic exchanges | A relationship that must be intensified

If Quebec companies want to do business more in France. Consequently, they must necessarily seek to become first partners of a French company present in Quebec, estimates Henri-Paul Rousseau, general delegate of Quebec in Paris, because, according to him, the intensification of economic relations goes through a greater partnership between the companies of the two countries.

Posted at 6:30 a.m.

The recent passage of Prime Minister François Legault at the Bourget Fair in Paris has highlighted the importance for Quebec companies to multiply partnerships with French companies. For example, intensify economic relations with France in order to free themselves from the too high of the United quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship States and open new commercial horizons.

From the first day of his presence in Paris. Moreover, two weeks ago, Prime Minister Legault introduced himself to the headquarters of the armored group of Mobile gendarmerie to present a partnership agreement between the SME Cambli of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, which builds armored trucks, and the company Soframe, a French competitor.

The two companies have decided to unite their forces while Cambli will ensure the Canadian content of a contract won by Soframe from the Canadian Army. Similarly, the two companies plan to bid jointly on future calls for tenders.

Later. Nevertheless, during the Bourget show, it was Bombardier’s turn to announce a partnership with the Multinational Safran and another with the Italian multinational Leonardo.

“We must significantly enhance our trade with France which benefited quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship more than us from the free trade agreement with Europe because we were too comfortable in our relationship with our American partner. However, ” explained Christine Fréchette, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, at the end of her mission to Le Bourget.

“Developing partnerships is the model we push to increase our trade with France,” she continued.

Quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship

The Rousseau model – Quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship

This model was developed by Henri-Paul Rousseau. For example, who was appointed general delegate of Quebec quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship in Paris in July 2024 with the mandate to do more economic development and increase trade between Quebec and France.

“For 60 years, we have achieved maturity in our relations with France. Nevertheless, There are some 280,000 French people who live in Quebec and 50,000 or 60,000 Quebecers who are in France. Nevertheless, More than 400 French companies are located in Quebec. 80 % of which are part of the CAC 40 (the main French stock market index) and 200 Quebec companies are in France, ”summarizes Henri-Paul Rousseau.

Since his appointment, the ex-CEO of the Caisse de Dépôt has been in action mode. He prepared a joint declaration that the French. Quebec Prime Ministers signed on June 13 in view of a strengthening of the Franco-Quebecois economic partnership.

In addition to the intensification of the meetings of ministers holding economic responsibilities. we also planned the creation of a France-Québec business forum to make meshes in the strategic aeronautical sectors, energy, decarbonation, artificial intelligence (AI) and technologies.

A pragmatic approach

“Our relations with France were disturbed by COVID and two wars. The French need to diversify because they have a strong deficit with Europe. and we must find new markets for our products, ”observes Henri-Paul Rousseau.

A Quebec company who wants to do business in France must quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship necessarily have first. established a partnership with a French company established in Quebec.

“This is where it starts. Quebec companies must enter the supply chain of French companies further. they must become suppliers in Quebec and become essential in the supply chain, “argues the training economist.

France is the fifth trading partner in Quebec behind the United States, China, Mexico and Germany.

To further stimulate quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship exchanges with France. Henri-Paul Rousseau also wishes to set up the France-Quebec 200 project which would be the equivalent of the QG100 network which brings together the 100 largest exporting companies in Quebec which he co-founded in 2010 with the entrepreneur Charles Sirois.

Lescure vision

Roland Lescure. ex-vice-president of the Caisse de Dépôt and former French Minister of Trade and Energy, now Vice-President of the National Assembly, knows the economic issues of the two countries well and is suitable for a turn.

“It was normal for Canada to go to the United States. it was an integrated economy and French companies believed that Quebec and Canada constituted a beautiful gateway to unravel the American market, but there, Trump changed everything in this favorable context,” said Roland Lescure in his National Assembly office, between two reading sessions.

quebec-france economic exchanges | relationship

“Here. we have just had an alignment of positive planets with the election of Mark Carney, who knows France and England well and who pointed out from his election that he wanted to give European and economic program,” observes Mr. Lescure.

The deputy of the French of North America recognizes the lines of force shared by Quebec. France in terms of AI, aeronautics and even defense.

Mr. Lescure participated in the Quebec reception to mark the start of the Bourget Fair. said he felt a very palpable craze on the part of the Quebec participants in terms of the potential of the sector in the coming years.

“You have to create arcs in strategic sectors, be it aeronautics, defense, AI, decarbonation, nuclear or hydroelectricity. We have common interests. we have an interest in developing them together, ”says Roland Lescure, who always has a good reading of ambient economic reality.