World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Strasbourg  - Business
Business

Business Profile: Although the smallest of France's 22 regions, Alsace is the second richest and the biggest exporter per capita. Strasbourg's geographical position, just across the river from Germany and close to Switzerland, allows some 64,000 Alsatians - les transfrontaliers - to cross the national boundaries daily. This keeps unemployment figures down to France's lowest rate - 6% (4th quarter, 1999), compared to the national average of 10.6%.

The region's economic success is also due to a tight network of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the European Institutions, which help make Strasbourg France's second city in terms of international events. Further factors in Strasbourg's favour are its highly skilled labour force and balanced economy. The major sectors of employment are agriculture and wine production, leisure and business tourism, services and industrial manufacturing.

Among the most important French firms based in Strasbourg are Peugeot (cars), SNCF (railways), Coopérateurs d'Alsace (retail) and France Télécom (telecommunications). Foreign companies based here include General Motors, Eaton and Siemens and a World Trade Centre, belonging to the international network is also located in Strasbourg. It is the second banking city in France after Paris, with 11 banking head offices and 14 foreign banks. Strasbourg's banking network has approximately twice as many banks per inhabitant as the rest of France.

Business Etiquette: Standard office hours are around 0800-1900, with a lunch break between 1200-1400; offices often close early on Friday afternoon. Breakfast meetings (between 0830 and 1000) are increasingly frequent and late-afternoon and lunch meetings are common. The Alsatians are well practiced in dealing with foreign visitors; over 40% work in foreign companies, of which 20% are Anglo-Saxon. Many members of the professional community speak German and English. The working mentality is quite Germanic - work is taken seriously; other French regions accuse the Alsatians of being too serious, while Alsatians think Parisians and the southern French are too light-hearted (légers). Of all the French regions, Alsace loses the smallest number of days in labour disputes.

When conducting business, the first meeting is normally devoted to establishing a relationship; further meetings will enable decisions to be made. Business cards are vital and suits (and ties for men) should be worn. Initial introductions should be made with surnames - bear in mind that the Strasbourgeois will use the formal French 'Monsieur' and 'Madame' or the formal German equivalents 'Herr' and 'Frau'.

When deciding to set up business in Strasbourg, it is wise to include an Alsatian, with useful contacts, in the team. ADIRA (Alsace Development Agency) (tel: (03) 8852 8282; fax: (03) 8875 6459) is a non-profit-making organisation geared towards minimising culture clashes and offers a wide-ranging free service for companies wishing to locate in Strasbourg.



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