Island should appoint ‘trade ambassador’ for France
Guernsey should appoint an ‘ambassador’ dedicated to developing trade relationships with France during the next States term, the politician responsible for negotiating the island’s new ferry contract with Brittany Ferries has said.
Economic Development president Neil Inder is encouraging the island to ‘look south’ instead of northwards to the UK, and make the most of the ‘opportunities that have arisen’ following the signing of the new ferry deal.
‘We have got one very grateful region, Brittany, which recognises the effort that Guernsey has put in with Brittany Ferries,’ he said.
‘Not playing second fiddle to Jersey now means we can deal directly with our friends – and I really do mean friends – in Brittany, and form proper partnerships there and elsewhere in France.’
Deputy Inder is due to welcome president of the Brittany region Loig Chesnais Girard to Guernsey today, following meetings with several senior French regional and national politicians in Brittany last week.
He said that a French trade delegation would also visit the island before the end of the current political term in order to be introduced to Guernsey, to see what it could offer France, and to meet business groups, including the Confederation of Guernsey Industry and Institute of Directors.
‘This island spends almost £1bn. on bringing goods in and 90% of those come from the UK,’ Deputy Inder said.
‘We should be looking less north and more south. Currently if we buy anything from France it goes from Calais to Dover before reaching us. Why can’t it come direct?
‘With the partnership we’ve secured with Brittany Ferries we have a great opportunity to buy direct.’
To make it work, Deputy Inder said there needed to be an ‘accord’ that a French trade ambassador post was created during the next States term, dedicated to the trade line between the jurisdictions.
He was also eager to see cultural and sporting ties strengthened.
‘Every time a sports team goes to play abroad, it’s almost always to the UK, but France shares many of our sports, why can’t our teams go there and their teams come here?’
Deputy Inder said meetings between stakeholders over inter-island day trips had taken place since his last update statement to the States last month. He said that he expected to be able to provide more information during this week’s States meeting.
