IT landscape in France
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Overview of France Official name: République Française
National Anthem: La Marseillaise
Motto: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
Flag: blue, white and red
Currency: the French Franc until July 2002, then the Euro
Capital: Paris
  550,000 sq. km (212,918, sq.miles-approximately the size of Texas).
Largest country in Western Europe (almost one fifth of the total area of the European Union), with a vast maritime zone (exclusive economic zone extending over 11 million sq. km).
  60.4 million (2000)
Density: 107 inhabitants per sq. km
France has 52 urban areas with over 150,000 inhabitants with a total population of 30 million; the five largest are:
 
Urban areas Population  in 1999
1. Paris 10.6 million
2. Lyon 1.6 million
3.Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.4 million
4. Lille 1.1 million
5. Toulouse 0.9 million
France is the world's fourth largest economic power in terms of GDP. The country's assets are varied and include its transport and telecommunications sectors, agri-foodstuffs an pharmaceutical industries, along with banking, insurance, tourism and the traditional luxury products (leather goods, ready-to-wear fashion, perfumes, fine wines and spirits, etc.)
In 1999 France had a trade surplus of 124 billion francs (18.9 billion euros); it is the world's fourth largest exporter of goods (mainly durables) and ranks second in services and agriculture (cereals and agri-foodstuffs in particular). It is the leading producer and exporter of farm products in Europe. France carries out 63% of its trade with its European Union partners (50% within the euro area).
France ranks fourth internationally for direct inward investment. Foreign investors appreciate the skills of French workers, the advanced level of research, the mastery of high technology, the
 stable currency and control of production costs.
- Gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999: 8,833 billion francs (1,346.58 billion euros)
- GDP growth (1999): 2.9%
- Inflation (1999):1.3%
- Trade surplus (1999): 124 billion francs (18.9 billion euros).
  In 2000, the IT sector has contributed to 6% of France GDP and to 20% to annual growth.
- Annual turnover: 441 billion francs (67.23 billion euros).
- 34 million telephone lines.
- 100 million phone cards purchased in 1998.
France Telecom has 49.5% of the market, Cegetel-SFR 37.5% and Bouygues Telecom 13%.
There has been a sharp rise in the number of mobile phones, with 19 million subscribers in January 2000. In the telecommunications sector, Alcatel is the fourth largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, and the world leader in transmission systems and submarine cable networks. Digital television is represented by Thomson Multimédias, which produces digital television decoders. E-commerce represents a turnover of 15 billion francs (2.29 billion euros).

Source: "Profile of France" printed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Embassy of France in the United States - 26 February 2001

For more information: Embassy of France


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