Inder looks to France for more trade from continent
THE new ferry timetable agreed between the States and Brittany Ferries should mean more opportunities for French visitors and more trade with the continent, the Economic Development president said yesterday.
Deputy Neil Inder said he looked forward to visitors from France bypassing the traditional Jersey market and coming directly to Guernsey, spending ‘more time and more money’ in the island.
‘We’ve got the States looking at a Victor Hugo centre and the French are very keen on learning about him,’ he said.
‘My suggestion is to get a trade show over in Guernsey and see how we can really work that direct route, because I think it’s got a lot going for it.’
However he said this would take effort on the part of the States.
‘We simply can’t expect things to happen. We, as a government, by policy, by effort, have to make things work.
‘For too long we have expected these things just to turn up – because Guernsey is Guernsey.’
He added that this was not just about French visitors but wider trade links.
‘Let’s see what food, products and relationships we can make with France,’ he said. ‘There is an economic madness to the way our food chain currently works. You can get a tray of peaches for 11 euros in France, but you can’t get three here for less than £8. We are staring at fresh veg, wood, aggregate – but by policy we don’t look as south enough as we should.’
He told the three-member scrutiny panel that these conversations were already starting, and that he was writing to the Chamber of Commerce in St Malo.
‘Brittany Ferries and Visit Guernsey are looking at how we can leverage this, and our new French daytrippers.’
He said the decision to go solo with a ferry service would be proved right or wrong over the next two years, and would depend on marketing and building the French market.
‘We are under obligation to make it work,’ he said. ‘Don’t just accept that it will happen.’
But Deputy St Pier questioned whether Brexit border regulations, which mean that daytrippers from France must carry passports – which fewer than half the population have – and not just ID cards, might effect this market.
