“French enterprises’ deepening confidence in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) underscores its emergence as a dynamic hub for the cooperation between China and French on innovation and sustainable development.” M. Sylvain FOURRIERE, Consul General of France in Guangzhou shared in an exclusive interview with Nanfang News Network at the 29th Francophonie Month in South China hosted by the Consulate General of France in Guangzhou.

“The GBA is more than just an economic powerhouse—it is a laboratory for future-oriented industries,” said Sylvain FOURRIERE, emphasizing the region’s unique blend of “economic dynamism, cutting-edge infrastructure, and openness to global collaboration.”  According to the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (CCIFC), over 300 French companies are currently operating in South China, which has solidified the GBA's status as a strategic priority for French enterprises aiming to innovate and expand within Asia.

GBA's innovation ecosystem fuels tech partnership

The Consul General highlighted diverse success stories across the region. In Zhongshan, battery manufacturer Forsee Power is expanding its renewable energy footprint, while Guangzhou-based SCANTECH pioneers advanced battery separator solutions. “These companies exemplify France’s commitment to green tech leadership—a vision aligned with China’s dual carbon goals,” Sylvain FOURRIERE noted.

Equally compelling is the story of SGD Pharma, a French glassmaker in Guangdong producing luxury perfume bottles and pharmaceutical containers. “The firm’s recent investments in laser engraving technologies underscore how French industrial expertise synergizes with China's manufacturing prowess.” Sylvain FOURRIERE explained.

“What sets the GBA apart is its ability to connect niche specialties to mass markets,” observed Sylvain FOURRIERE. “French firms here aren’t just exporting products; they’re co-creating value chains.”

Institutional frameworks strengthening economic ties

In 2024, Guangzhou’s Kindgold Group and French agribusiness giant SEMMARIS, operator of Paris’ Rungis International Market, launched the “French Farm to Chinese Dining Table” initiative—a rapid supply chain platform to streamline premium food imports. “This initiative is not just about trade volume; it represents a blueprint for resilient, tech-driven agricultural logistics—a model that can be replicated across various sectors,” said Sylvain FOURRIERE.

In 2023, China-France bilateral trade reached RMB 555.11 billion, with Guangdong alone contributing RMB 109.39 billion, accounting for 19.7 percent of the total, according to Chinese customs data. The annual Sino-French GBA Business Summit, which is one of the institutional mechanisms, secured USD 3.22 billion in deals at its 2024 edition, acting as an accelerator. “The summit gathered over 400 executives to translate policy into projects,” Sylvain FOURRIERE stressed.

“The world-class ports of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, high-speed rail networks, comprehensive supply chains, and incentives like streamlined foreign investment approvals also contributed to this ecosystem.” Sylvain FOURRIERE shared that French businessmen can easily find various suppliers and strong infrastructure backup from the GBA.

Sylvain FOURRIERE emphasized France's commitment to tangible collaboration in the GBA, stating, "In the GBA, we are demonstrating that cooperation and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can lead to mutual benefits. This region remains an attractive destination for French businesses.”

Sylvain FOURRIERE furthered GBA’s core appeal: “The region’s magnetism resides not just in infrastructure or policies, but in entrepreneurs who pioneer disruptive models, officials who streamline cross-border solutions, and consumers who drive demand for innovation. For French firms, this ecosystem is where competitive edges are forged.”