A survey by the French Ministry of Economics, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty indicated that French companies operating  in Lebanon are employing more than 6,300 Lebanese nationals. It added that the top French employer in Lebanon is container shipping  firm CMA-CGM, followed by the advertising and communications group Publicis, hotel operator Accor, TotalEnergies, and industrial  company Nexans (Liban Cables).  In parallel, the survey showed that 22% of French companies in Lebanon are in the services sector; followed by the energy sector (12%);the construction and the agri-food industries (10% each); the digital sector (8%); the transport and finance industries (6% each); the  pharmaceutical, cosmetics and engineering sectors (4% each); while the remaining 14% of firms are in other sectors of the economy.  Further, it noted that 68% of French firms in Lebanon are subsidiaries of French firms, while the remaining 24% were equally split between joint-ventures and representative offices of parent French companies. It added that 66% of French companies in Lebanon consist  of large groups, 20% are small- and medium-sized enterprises and 14% are intermediate-sized firms,. In addition, it indicated that 67%  of French companies that are present in Lebanon cater to the Lebanese and foreign markets, while 28% focus on the local market, and  5% of French firms in the country target foreign markets only.  Further, the survey pointed out that French companies operating in Lebanon follow three economic models. It said that the first model  focuses on the domestic market and benefits from local consumption, as French exports to Lebanon totaled $400m in 2022 and was the  third largest market for French exports in the Near and Middle East region. Also, it said that the second model is based on highly skilled  Lebanese human capital that helps French firms explore other markets in the region and beyond. It added that the third model focuses  on the development of shared services, given the quality and competitiveness of Lebanon's human resources, as well as the country's dynamic technological ecosystem. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Byblos Bank, Lebanon This Week, 20 - 25 November 2023