Mr Le Guern has high hopes for Polish-French nuclear cooperation Courtesy of CCIFP

Alice Trudelle: How has French investment in Poland evolved?

Bertrand Le Guern: In the 1990s a few large French groups started investing in Poland, among which telecoms were central, with France Télécom, Canal+ and Vivendi. (See Building Poland's information society)

Parallel to this we saw a big wave of French investments in the retail sector, and today French retail has a very strong presence in Poland, with the Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc groups, but also brands linked to these groups. (See Les petites ambitions)

Many small and medium-sized enterprises also decided to follow suit, and today the CCIFP has almost 350 members and French investments in Poland amount to €20 million.

France was less prompt to invest in Poland than was Germany, for example. Why do you think that was?

I think the geographic proximity and historical ties that Germany and Poland share naturally led to a high degree of economic cooperation. I also think that despite France’s enthusiasm, German politicians were even more involved in the democratization process in Poland.

However, we have to remember that France was the top investor in Poland for several years, and even today French investments are at a level comparable to those of Germany.

What are the most promising sectors for French investors in Poland?

I hope that the nuclear sector, for example, will be an occasion for France to return with new pioneering projects.

Some things are already going smoothly, relations are good between EDF Polska and PGE [Polska Grupa Energetyczna, the state-owned energy conglomerate in charge of Poland’s first projected nuclear plant]. But the fundamental decision of which technology will be chosen remains, and because each consortium offers its own technology, one decision will lead to the other. My understanding is that it will still be some time before the decision is made, but I hope nuclear cooperation will be one of the great moments for French investment in Poland. (See France angles to provide nuclear tech)

Poland will also need investment in the construction sector for several more years, and this is a market where French companies need to be. It is also a market that is developing in a healthy way. The Polish real estate sector is stable, the crisis has not caused prices to collapse, and banks all say they have renewed demand for real estate credit. (See Rapport under construction)

One day there will also be more roads in Poland, and even if the process seems painful right now, we will eventually have these few thousand kilometers which will enable us to travel normally.

France is also a country where there is substantial interest in the green-energy sector, which will inevitably take on a growing importance in Poland. (See The power of green)

I am probably forgetting many sectors, but what is certain is that there is no lack of opportunities for French investors in Poland.