- In 2018, France was Turkey's 6th trading partner and Turkey was France's 14th trading partner. French exports were worth $6.7 billion (bn), and Turkish exports were $7.6 bn, concentrating on industrial intermediary goods.
- Since 2016, France's trade deficit Turkey has widened, confirming the evolution of their exchange pattern, itself a reflection of Turkey's evolving industrial growth model.
- With a market of 80 million inhabitants and a good level of infrastructures, Turkey appears quite attractive to French investors and entrepreneurs, while Turkish investment in the French economy remains minimal.
- French economic players normally look at Turkey as a potential hub to develop activities in the Middle East and Central Asia, but Ankara's adventurous regional takes have weakened this inclination.
- The political risk forecast associated with Turkey in Franch has significantly darkened over the last 4 years, notably because of Turkey's involvment in conflict areas, and also because trust in the Turkish governance system has weakened.
- There are disagreements between France and Turkey concerning the areas that could be newly opened up for trade. France would like to open up the Turkish agricultural market, a prospect that worries Turkish farmers. On the other hand, France does not wish to open up the digital sector to Turkish companies.
- Formally, France and Turkey are in favor of the modernization of the EU-Turkey CU, yet the topic is of interest only to business circles and does not bear consensus neither with political decision-makers nor with the public.
- Political tensions between France and Turkey and the growing mistrust of the French public opinion towards free trade agreements in general do not provide a constructive framework for negotiations to modernize the CU.
Over 400 French business companies currently have an industrial or commercial activity in Turkey. Some big names have been there for long, like Renault, who concluded a partnership with the pension fund of the Turkish Army, Oyak, as early as 1969, and started producing cars in Bursa in 1971.
BNP-Paribas, the first French Bank in terms of assets and profitability, seventh-biggest asset manager and Euro area’s number one bank, is currently the 6th major player of the Banking sector in Turkey.
ADP Group holds 46.12% of the capital of TAV Airport operator since 2017.
Over 400 French business companies currently have an industrial or commercial activity in Turkey. Some big names have been there for long, like Renault, who concluded a partnership with the pension fund of the Turkish Army, Oyak, as early as 1969, and started producing cars in Bursa in 1971.
BNP-Paribas, the first French Bank in terms of assets and profitability, seventh-biggest asset manager and Euro area’s number one bank, is currently the 6th major player of the Banking sector in Turkey.
ADP Group holds 46.12% of the capital of TAV Airport operator since 2017.
The European missile consortium MBDA (British-French-Italian) has framed a project to produce a missile system in partnership with a series of Turkish companies and Thales, another major French player of the world defence industry. Engie and EDF were engaged for several years on the nuclear plant project in Sinop, but the perspective seems frozen at present.
Turkey’s Top Trading Partners (2018)
1. Germany: US$15.4 billion (9% of total Turkish exports)
2. United Kingdom: $10.9 billion (6.3%)
3. Italy: $9.3 billion (5.4%)
4. Iraq: $9 billion (5.2%)
5. United States: $8 billion (4.7%)
6. France: $7.6 billion (4.5%)
7. Spain: $7.6 billion (4.5%)
8. Netherlands: $5.4 billion (3.2%)
9. Israel: $4.4 billion (2.5%)
10. Russia: $3.9 billion (2.3%)
11. Romania: $3.8 billion (2.2%)
12. United Arab Emirates: $3.5 billion (2.1%)
13. Egypt: $3.3 billion (1.9%)
14. Poland: $3.3 billion (1.9%)
15. Belgium: $3.2 billion (1.9%)
France’s Top Trading Partners
1. Germany: US$78.1 billion (14.1% of total French exports)
2. United States: $47.1 billion (8.5%)
3. Italy: $42 billion (7.6%)
4. Spain: $41.7 billion (7.5%)
5. Belgium: $38.3 billion (6.9%)
6. United Kingdom: $37.7 billion (6.8%)
7. China: $23.4 billion (4.2%)
8. Switzerland: $19.9 billion (3.6%)
9. Netherlands: $19.6 billion (3.5%)
10. Poland: $11.4 billion (2.1%)
11. Singapore: $9.7 billion (1.7%)
12. Japan: $8.6 billion (1.6%)
13. Portugal: $8 billion (1.4%)
14. Turkey: $6.7 billion (1.2%)
15. Hong Kong: $6.5 billion (1.2%)
πηγή :Ifri
