9
Russia - France
a Russian partner will understand the
market and have access to decision-
makers, which are essential factors
that a company often takes a long time
to acquire if it does not have a partner.
I do not underestimate the difficulty of
finding the right partner, one whose
values and goals correspond to those
of the French company.
What isyouranalysisof thecontribution
of the Trianon Dialogue to bilateral
relations? How can dialogue between
civil societies, such as cultural and
artistic exchanges, contribute to the
quality of relations between the two
countries, when the general context
is somewhat difficult?
The defining feature of the Trianon
Dialogue, which was decided on by
the French and Russian presidents
during the visit of Mr Putin to
Versailles in May 2017, is its open
nature. It is not limited to existing
Franco-Russian circles but concerns
all our civil societies and all those
who wish to debate major issues
for our societies, not only Franco-
Russian political relations. The
Dialogue offers exchanges to acade-
mic establishments, associations,
cultural institutions, local authorities
and citizens. Whatever the condition
of political and geopolitical relations
may be, cultural and artistic exchanges
are a solid foundation, which enables
Russia to be known, understood and
liked in France and France in Russia.
With the Trianon Dialogue, we want
to enable our societies to serenely
discuss issues that concern them, to
better know each other and dispel
any possible prejudices. Among the
latest events related to the Dialogue,
whose subject this year is the ‘city
of the future’, there were two specific
discussion sessions that were
organized in the framework of
the Moscow Urban Forum on 17 and
18 July this year.
As Ambassador, how do you facilitate
the business community and French
expatriates in Russia?
The facilitating of the French
business community requires many
one-on-one meetings with French
business heads that do business
in Moscow or are visiting, regular
me e t i n g s w i t h t h e R u s s i a n
Committee of French Foreign Trade
Advisors (FFTA) and frequent activi-
ties with the Franco-Russian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(CCIFR): joint visits to the Russian
provinces; for example, from 11 to
13 September 2018, I will be at the
Vladivostok Economic Forum with
the CCIFR; organization of meetings
with French authorities that visit
Russia; and joint events, such as the
recent International Saint Petersburg
Economic Forum in May, with the
creation of a French exhibition hall
for 16 companies.
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Le Kremlin.
