Alexia McClure, chief operating officer at Jersey Business, said: ‘It has created an impetus for businesses to start looking at other supply chains and market opportunities in a way they haven’t done before. At the moment there is understandably a focus on the immediate impact of Brexit but, in the longer-term, businesses should look again at how they are operating and see if they can reduce costs or create new markets.’
The World Trade Center in Rennes and the Ille-et-Vilaine Chamber of Commerce have put together information, which is available online, to help English-speaking entrepreneurs.
The details can be viewed at wtc-rennes-bretagne.com/pages/guides-pratiques/our-soft-landing-packages/.
The Ille-et-Vilaine Chamber also works with English-speaking business consultants who are available to interpret conversations with bankers, lawyers and accountants and generally help with setting up a business in France.
Mrs McClure said Jersey Business would help any local companies looking for support. Her comments follow a recent visit to Jersey by representatives from Rennes who were keen to promote business links.
Jersey Chamber of Commerce chief executive Murray Norton said there were many opportunities and that he expected to see direct air links established between our Island and Rennes St Jacques Airport.
‘Rennes is undergoing huge development and growth, fuelled by its connectivity to Paris,’ he said. ‘Being only one hour and 20 minutes away by train makes Rennes highly commutable for many Parisian workers seeking to live elsewhere.’
The increased interest means both Chamber of Commerce and Jersey Business are looking to support local entrepreneurs seeking opportunities with the Island’s closest European neighbours.
‘We do get contact from French businesses looking to trade with Jersey, but
we are currently looking to see what interest there is from Jersey businesses in building links in France,’ said Mrs McClure.
‘We are actively supporting the development of opportunities to do business between here and France, and onwards in to Europe, and would be keen to speak to any business that has an interest in this region.’
