France
(Source : Embassy of India, Paris)
Significant Trends in trade and investment
Trade – In Jan-Oct 2017, India France bilateral trade stood at € 9.65 billion (+20.91%) as compared to the corresponding period the previous year. India’s exports to France increased by 11.94% during this period with a rise in exports of following top 10 category products: mineral fuels & oils (66.24%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances (10.43%); automobiles and parts (40.26%); electrical machinery (9.11%), footwear (2.6%), articles of leather (1.92%). However there was a drop in exports of gems and jewellery (-2.15%). knitted or crocheted articles of apparel & clothing accessories (-1.04%) & non knitted or crocheted articles of apparel & clothing accessories (-0.79%) & organic chemicals (-0.2.72%).
Meanwhile, French exports to India increased by 32.45% during the same period: Exports of following top 10 ranked products increased: aircraft & spacecraft (95.95%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery & mechanical appliances (67.5%); miscellaneous chemical products (12.39%); electrical machinery & equipment (18.08%) & plastics and articles thereof (8.32%). However, exports of optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus & parts thereof fell by 23.01%, organic chemicals by 6.98% & those of iron & steel by -15.61% & pharmaceutical products (-8.35%).
Investment – According to statistics released by Business France, “There are over 150 Indian companies operating in France, where they employ more than 7,000 people. Eleven new investments from India were recorded in 2016, creating or maintaining 171 jobs. Indian investments in France in 2016 were often in high value-added activities, particularly R&D and engineering (36%), decision-making centres (27%), including a European headquarters, and business services (18%). Investments came in a variety of sectors, including software and IT services (18%), energy and recycling (18%), aerospace, naval and railway equipment (18%), and textiles and clothing (18%) sectors. Indian companies invested primarily in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (27%), Ile de France (Paris region) (27%) and Bourgogne Franche-Comté (18%) regions. Selected investment projects in 2016 were from:
Royal Enfield [in 2016 this Indian firm announced that it would be establishing its pan-European headquarters in Paris (Ile de France region), with the opening of a concept store in Levallois-Perret]. Guesswork [a winner in French Tech Ticket, season 1, this Indian start-up markets a mobile app that helps small online retailers connect with customers. Guesswork won a one-year residency for 2016 in the Startup42 business incubator in the Parisian suburb of Kremlin-Bicêtre (Ile de France region)]. Etosha: [this specialist in flavours, fragrances and essential oils for agri-food, personal care (deodorants, perfumes and soaps) and homecare (detergents) recently established a French subsidiary in Grasse (ProvenceAlpes-Côte d’Azur region) that will create 10 jobs over the next three years]. Dymond Cleantech: [a winner in French Tech Ticket, season 1, this Indian start-up has developed an electrochemical water purification technology based on diamond electrodes. In 2016, it was resident in the La Paillasse business incubator in Paris (Ile de France region), where it had co-working space and access to coaching sessions].
Mexico
(Source : Embassy of India, Mexico City)
The engagements between India and Mexico in commercial sphere are increasing rapidly since the visit of Prime Minister in June 2016. There is growing interest towards India in the Mexican businessmen’s mind as can be assessed from the wide coverage of Indian activities in national and local newspapers as well.