NEWS COVERAGE - FRANCE

ECONOMY AND BUSINESS NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK

February 27th, 2015
Business Sweden in Paris

FRANCE: STAGNATING BUSINESS CLIMATE INDICATORS

IN FEBRUARY 2015
The business expectations of French managers remain on the same level for four months in a row according to report
conducted by Insee
Reaching 94 points on average, the index is still below its long term average value of 100 points
The industrial sector particularly concerned regarding its order books, shifting away from its long term average value
Favourable external factors such as weak euro against the dollar, low interests rates and low oil prices have not yet had
a significant impact on attitude towards future business opportunities
Despite these figures, Insee predicts a 0,3 % GDP growth during the first and the second quarter

Business
climate index

Oct 14

Nov 14

Dec 14

Jan 15

Feb 15

Industrials

98

99

99

100

99

Real estate

86

89

89

88

89

Retail

90

96

95

103

99

Services

93

93

92

92

91

SOURCE: 1, 2 & 3
BUSINESS SWEDEN

27 FEBRUARY, 2015

FRANCE: OBJECTIVE OF REACHING FULL HIGH SPEED,

30 MBITS/S BROADBAND COVERAGE BY 2022
In 2014, the European Union registered 14.6 million subscribers of high speed broadband with a subscriber growth rate
of 55 % and a coverage growth of 43 %
The number of French subscribers increased by 25 % in 2014
France is currently the second biggest European high speed broadband market reaching approximately 1.7 million
subscribers

Sweden, being the most mature market and currently ranked third, counts 1.5 millions subscribers
Since 2013, the French Government has launched a project entitled Le Plan France Trs Haut Dbit, with the
objective of reaching full high speed broadband coverage of the French territory by 2022 by investing 20 Bn
The French authority of electronic communications, ARCEP, is currently pushing for accelerated replacement of
copper cables with optical fiber
According to the French Government, an extended fiber network would greatly improve the French business climate
in three ways:
1.

Enabling individuals to work together although present in different regions

2.

Enhancing of the cloud technology

3.

Sending of big data documents

SOURCE: 4 & 5
BUSINESS SWEDEN

27 FEBRUARY, 2015

FRANCE: THE M-COMMERCE IS PROJECTED TO SURGE

IN 2015, GROWING AT A RATE OF 91 %
With a turnover of 3.7 Bn and a growing rate of 124 % in 2014, the French M-commerce is projected to almost double
in size reaching 7 Bn in 2015, according to the Centre for Retail Research
The study excludes online purchasing of groceries, tickets, cars, insurance and financial services
The French M-commerce sector recorded the second most important growth rate in Europe, after Germany (131 %)
Due to technology progress in localization of mobile devices, beacons and mobile payment solutions, the prospects of
the French m-commerce continue to look promising in 2015

Favourable statistics for future development in 2015:

55 % of the French population owns a smartphone today, compared to 43 % in 2014
The French smartphone equipment rate, percentage of population owning a smartphone, is on the other hand below
the European average of 60 %
French consumers expected to make 20% of their purchases through their smartphones in 2015
On a European level, online purchases could amount to 44,9 Bn in 2015, growing at a rate of 89 %

SOURCE: 6 & 7
BUSINESS SWEDEN

27 FEBRUARY, 2015

FRANCE: FRENCH SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTOR LISTED

AS POTENTIAL SUPPLIER TO AUSTRALIA
After breaking with the Swedish submarine constructor Saab, the Australian Government has decided to compare the
offerings of French, Japanese and German submarine suppliers
The French group DCNS developing the nuclear driven submarine SMX Ocean, is seen as a potential good fit for
the Australian army
Tony Abbot, the Australian Prime Minister, has made it clear that a future supplier would have to cooperate closely with
the local industry, in order to preserve Australian job opportunities

A future contract with the Australian Government would amount to 14 Bn

The French defence industry is predicted to increase its turnover in 2015, amounting to approximately 10 Bn, beating
former record of 2009
French military exports, in Bn
10
8,16
5,75

5,66

'06

'07

6,58
5,12

4,11

'05

'08

6,87

6,52

'09

'10

8,06

4,82

'11

'12

'13

'14

'15E

SOURCES: 8, 9 & 10
BUSINESS SWEDEN

27 FEBRUARY, 2015

SOURCES
1.

INSEE 24/02/2015, En fvrier 2015, le climat des affaires en France est stable,
http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/info-rapide.asp?id=105&date=20150224

2.

INSEE 24/02/2015, En fvrier 2015, le climat des affaires dans lindustrie manufacturire est quasi stable, proche de son niveau moyen,
http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/info-rapide.asp?id=105&date=20150224

3.

Les Echos 25/02/2015, Pour les chefs d'entreprise, la reprise n'est toujours pas l,
http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20150225/lec1_france/0204181841773-pour-les-chefs-dentreprise-la-reprise-nest-toujours-pas-la-1096519.php

4.

Les Echos 24/02/2015, Le trs haut dbit gagne du terrain en Europe,

http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20150224/lec2_high_tech_et_medias/0204178483866-le-tres-haut-debit-gagne-du-terrain-en-europe-1096180.php

5.

France Trs Haut Dbit 26/02/2015, Comprendre le Plan France Trs Haut Dbit,
http://www.francethd.fr/comprendre-le-plan-france-tres-haut-debit/

6.

LSA 25/02/2015, M-commerce: lachat sur mobile va peser 7 milliards deuros en 2015 en France,
http://www.lsa-conso.fr/m-commerce-l-achat-sur-mobile-va-peser-7-milliards-d-euros-en-2015-en-france-etude,202645

7.

RetailMeNot 25/02/2015, Le march du M-commerce franais devrait doubler en 2015, passant de 3,7 7 milliards deuros (+91%),
http://www.retailmenot.fr/2015/02/le-marche-du-m-commerce-francais-devrait-doubler-en-2015-passant-de-37-a-7-milliards-deuros-91

8.

Les Echos 23/02/2015, Sous-marins australiens : France, Allemagne et Japon dans la course,
http://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/0204176719477-sous-marins-australiens-france-allemagne-et-japon-dans-la-course1095602.php

9.

Financial Times 20/02/2015, Australia rows back on A$20bn sub deal,

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a157d4c4-b8ce-11e4-b8e6-00144feab7de.html?siteedition=intl#axzz3SZOzcL1v

10.

Les Echos 16/02/2015, Exportations militaires: record en vue en 2015,

http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20150216/lec2_industrie_et_services/0204159295817-exportations-militaires-record-en-vue-en-2015-1093615.php

BUSINESS SWEDEN

27 FEBRUARY, 2015