For more than a quarter of a century, Bretagne Commerce International (BCI) has been promoting the opening of the Breton economy to international markets. Interview with Gilles Falc’Hun, president of the board of the regional association.
JGDE. What are the missions of BCI and what means do you have to carry them out?
Gilles Falc’Hun. BCI is an association of 800 Breton companies. It has two main missions. On the one hand, it enables all Breton companies, irrespective of their size, whether members or not, to structure and accelerate their international development projects. On the other hand, it favours the attractiveness of Bretagne, by supporting foreign companies wishing to invest in the region. To do this, we have a budget of just over 4 M €. € 3.2 million is provided by the Region, the remainder by the CCI, through the payment of the people’s salaries at our disposal in the territorial CCIs.
In total, BCI has about 40 jobs. We also have a network of more than 100 partners residing in more than one hundred countries. We are partners in the region and the representative of the Business France Invest agency.
JGDE. Thanks to your very profound territorial network, you know the companies and can effectively meet their needs. What are the main obstacles to their international development and what solutions do you bring?
GF. The problem is especially for first-time exporters, those who want to go abroad SMEs, many in Bretagne, do not always have the human resources to identify opportunities abroad. In addition to recurrent information meetings throughout the year, BCI offers them access to many online services, and can offer them tailor-made support. We also promote Bretagne by participating in about 40 trade shows around the world under the France pavilion. A convention system makes it possible to reduce the costs of access for companies to these events, but also to organise individual or collective missions abroad. The Region has also set up assistance to enable companies to hire their first export manager.
JGDE. Are you also involved in researching and welcoming foreign investors? How is it going?
GF. For the past ten years, the Region has entrusted us with a mission to approach foreign investors. The hundred BCI correspondents around the world are responsible for approaching the companies of interest. A BCI team is in charge of facilitating their reception in Bretagne by informing them about the possible locations, or the help they can benefit from. This support is discretionary, as companies often search simultaneously in several regions (French or European). Bretagne can, once again, rely on a competent and structured team, which knows how to avoid competing in the different territories of Bretagne.
JGDE. As CEO of Sill Entreprises (agri-food), you were named «Best French Entrepreneur» in 2016. What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur who would like to go abroad?
GF. With the weak growth in France and Europe, a company that wants to develop cannot ignore the international market. Of course, export is full of traps: regulations, costs, etc. However, you should not be afraid to go ahead, provided you’re aware beforehand, you choose partners wisely and have a network of skills and services like BCI.
Bretagne Commerce International
35 Place du Colombier 35000 Rennes
www.bretagnecommerceinternational.com
