Alec Luhn

Rachel Nielsen

This year, billions of dollars will flow from France to Russia in the form of technological, industrial and retail investment, while many of those same investor companies will pull in billions of dollars in Russian spending. That money will be spent on groceries at Auchan, cars from Renault and cosmetics from Lancome. There also will be French companies working in oil, gas, logistics and construction.

It will be, in short, a continuation of the strong economic relations between the two countries.

The map and company list in this publication show the extent of business ties between Russia and France. Close to 400 French businesses have offices or factories here. Even more notable, however, is the breadth of investment: French companies across a wide variety of sectors have opened offices throughout Russia.

The relationship isn't without controversies. Vinci is the road builder behind the Moscow-St. Petersburg highway cutting through the centuries-old Khimki forest, and the much-touted deal over the Mistral, the French helicopter ship, was long held up by disagreements over pricing and technology sharing. Yet, after years of business deals and centuries of cultural engagement, the French-Russian relationship remains a resilient one.

Our reporters, from The Moscow Times, Vedomosti and St. Petersburg Times, bring you a detailed picture of French business in various regions. Our partner in this project was the French Chamber of Commerce, which provided excellent insights and figures. At the same time, we reported these articles without obligation. So read on for a clear-eyed view of what's new between Russia and France.

P.S. You can also read our web-exclusive interview with Tatarstan's minister of industry and trade, Ravil Zaripov, about the potential for continued French investment in the investor-friendly republic.

Rachel Nielsen, Editor
Alec Luhn, Deputy Editor