France with a population of 66.2 million people having area of 643,801 Sq Km, today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Nato, the G-8, the G-20, the EU and other multilateral organisations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and co-operation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999.
The French economy is diversified across all sectors. The government has partially or fully privatised many large companies, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales. However, the government maintains a strong presence in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defence industries. With more than 84 million foreign tourists per year, France is the most visited country in the world and maintains the third largest income in the world from tourism. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that mitigate economic inequality. France's real GDP has been increased by 0.4% in 2014. The unemployment rate (including overseas territories) increased from 7.8% in 2008 to 10.5% in 2014. The budget deficit rose sharply from 3.3% of GDP in 2008 to 7.5% of GDP in 2009 before improving to 4.3% of GDP in 2014.
-- GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.587 trillion
-- GDP - per capita (PPP): $40,400
-- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $144.9 billion
-- Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7%
-- Agriculture - products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
-- Industries: machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
-- Exports: $578.3 billion
-- Exports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, -- --- plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
-- Imports: $634 billion
-- Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemical, textiles
Pak France bilateral trade stands at USD 1.50 billion in which Pak exports are $923 million -mainly textiles, leather, carpets etc and imports are $570 Million mainly aircraft parts, machinery, technical and medical equipments, pharmaceuticals, dairy, chemicals etc . Keeping in view the potential of the both the countries the bilateral trade figures are not impressive which needs more attention and hard work to improve the numbers of bilateral trade.
FDI (Foreign Direct investment) from France to Pakistan from 2007 to 2014 is USD 332.4 Million approx. The numbers are also not impressive where Pakistan has great potential for French investment in: infrastructure, energy, health, education, tourism, agriculture Dairy and Live Stock. Investment will help Pakistan to generate employment and will also enhance the skills of our people.
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