Maritime, manufacturing, digital, real estate... Marseille-Provence shows off all its assets to Chinese investors

5 major economic operators of the territory at the Belt & Road Summit in Hong Kong

International trade and international investments guarantee shared prosperity. Investor confidence is an advantage to help us boost our market share. Hong Kong, which continues to be dedicated to improving its economy, is the gateway to investments in China. The Belt and Road Summit will take place on September 11 and 12, bringing together political figures and grouping by country and by region an array of major economic, industrial and financial players. Historically positioned on the silk roads stretching to the countries of Europe and Africa, the Marseille-Provence area will be on hand at the event to pique the interest of Chinese investors in Provence.

China is a significant vector for development in the economic appeal strategy pursued by the Provence region. This high-growth world power with a 6.3% increase in GDP in the first half of 2019 boasts an economy that is at the core of globalization. The port of Shanghai has become the world's largest, reflecting its gigantic domestic market, and Hong Kong is a top-notch stock market and financial capital.

To carry more weight and to exert more influence together, a delegation made up of the Marseilles-Provence airport, Euroméditerranée, the Port of Marseille-Fos, PIICTO, Provence Promotion, CMA-CGM, Ceva Logistics and STMicroelectronics will serve as the region's ambassador to Chinese investors at the next BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) summit.

Aix-Marseille-Provence, a hub for China

Compared to other European urban areas, Aix-Marseille-Provence has many advantages to give it a long-term role in the growth strategy set forth by President Xi Jinping. Its openness to the world and its central location make it an appealing digital and logistics hub.

Port activities between Marseille-Fos and China are especially well developed. CMA-CGM, Marseille's leader in maritime transport, has connected China to Europe and Africa for many years and the number one Chinese shipowner Cosco Shipping Lines handles a regular flow of merchandise through its Marseille office.

The recent agreement between CMA-CGM and China State Shipbuilding Corporation to build 10 next-generation container ships is a new mark of confidence that will perpetuate positive collaborations between the region and China.

With the 2020 arrival in Marseille of the new PEACE cable (Pakistan & East Africa Connecting Europe) that will link Asia, Africa and Europe over 12,000 km, the future is still about strengthening trade and business ties. This new information highway will be the shortest path for transmitting data from China. China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom quickly understood the value of investing in Provence.

A window to new markets

A region driven by its port (second-largest port in the Mediterranean), connectivity (in the top 10 of digital hubs) and creative pool (more than 74,000 students), Greater Marseille is at the heart of contemporary evolutions and appeals to Chinese investors. Considered to be the smart city of southern Europe, it is deploying experimentation zones to develop major projects in new markets:

• fusion energy with the ITER research project, in which China plays an active role;
• the sustainable, connected city  with Euroméditerranée, the biggest urban redevelopment in Europe and the Marseille-Fos Smart Port which encourages the emergence of new digital solution through active collaborations between start-ups and major corporations;
• the digital transformation in light of future challenges with thecamp, a unique place for reflection and experimentation to spark new international projects;
• industrial innovations with PIICTO, which hosts demonstrators that promote eco-friendly manufacturing (circular economy, new fuel production, etc.) in the industrial-port zone of Fos-sur-Mer.

An important milestone in terms of prospecting

The Chinese government's commitment to intensifying its activity in Europe and Africa is an opportunity for the Provencal region.

After successfully attracting the manufacturer Quechen Silicon Chemical, which is preparing to open its silica plant for green tires in Fos-sur-Mer, the major operators in Aix-Marseille-Provence intend to combine forces to find other potential Chinese investors.

In November 2018, at the Shanghai expo (CIIE), Provence Promotion and the Port of Marseille-Fos teamed up for the first time to jointly promote the manufacturing-port sectors. In Shandong province, the operation intensified in May 2019 with the inclusion of Airbus Helicopters.

Now, a new milestone will be met with the major economic players who are now working on an influence program backed by Provence Promotion. The Hong Kong Belt and Road Summit will be an opportunity to boost the visibility of Aix-Marseille-Provence alongside the other cities of Europe and France: Bavaria, the Ruhr, Genoa, Pomerania, Greater Paris and Bordeaux.

Three highlights worth mentioning during the mission: an appointment at the headquarters of the Chinese telecom giant Huawei, a visit to the HAX accelerator, the largest specialized in hardware and connected objects, and an evening at the French Residency of Hong Kong organized by the General Consul Mr Alexandre Giorgini.