Tour de Force: France highlights defence sector

Call it a sign of the strength of French companies in the Canadian defence marketplace. As industry prepared for the kick off of CANSEC, the Embassy of France for the first time hosted representatives, politicians and media to highlight what Ambassador François Delattre called a “time…to renew a true partnership with the Canadian defence industry.” Excerpts of his remarks follow.

“Indeed, French industries have never been so active in Canada. Allow me to remind you that France is the 4th largest foreign investor in Canada. 500 French companies have their offices here and employ more than 80 000 people. Well-known French brands are represented. Let me mention Sanofi, Areva, Alstom or Total. These industries are very dynamic, and France aims to bring this kind of dynamics to the defence sector.

We believe that the momentum is there.

First: A new Defence Strategy, which sets unprecedented modernization efforts for the Canadian Forces. This is the first time that a modernization project will be supported by a predictable funding of $490 billion over a period of 20 years and will include active involvement of the Canadian defence industry;

Second: We have a very similar vision of defence and security policies, which leads to a strong convergence on modernization projects and fruitful opportunities for defence research and development and industrial cooperation. I will mention armoured vehicles, destroyers, frigates, search and rescue aircraft.

It is within this framework that the French companies wish to be in position to meet the competitive needs and innovation requirements of the Canadian Forces.

This approach offers great opportunities for high value-added partnerships between French and Canadian companies and perfectly fits with the ‘Advantage Canada’ program, which is the Canadian government’s strategic plan for ensuring economic prosperity in Canada.

French companies [that] compete for these defence contracts in Canada are international companies, global leaders in the defence industry, and are known for their state-of-the-art technology. They invest heavily in research and development, as well as in their long-term branches abroad.

French companies are closely following the developments in Canada’s Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) policy. They are fully aware of the importance that these modernization programs of the Canadian Forces carry for the Canadian economy. They are also fully aware of the weight that will be given to their industrial bid in the evaluation of their comprehensive bid.

French companies have for the most part acquired the status of Canadian companies given their long experience in the market – some have been in Canada for 30 years – and their participation in the competition for defence contracts at different stages of the bidding process. They wish to prove they are capable of advancing into the front ranks in Canada, while respecting the mutual interests of the two countries.

These companies already create more than 3000 jobs in Canada and generate more than 1.5 billions of Canadian dollars in revenues.

Let me give you some concrete examples of French industries that are ready to compete in the on-going projects:

·     NEXTER, French leader in land systems, is proposing Combat and Armoured Vehicles to the Canadian Army and is ready to relocate the vehicle assembly to Canada;

·     EADS and its division subsidiaries, Eurocopter and Composites Atlantic, partner to the Canadian industry since 1987, 600 employees and is ready to compete for the new Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft and for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Fleet Replacement program;

·     DCNS, a top-ranking European player in the design of warships, is ready to offer a solution for the replacement of the Halifax Frigates in partnership with Canadian shipyards;

·     SAFRAN, 1100 employees, $360 million and ready to provide hi-tech infrared cameras for the Canadian Forces vehicle programs and equipment for the Integrated Soldier System Project;

·     And last but not least, THALES CANADA, 30 years in Canada, 1450 employees, $542 million, three centres of excellence in Canada, is already equipping the Canadian Forces with Land, Naval and Air systems.

To conclude, we strongly believe that our Defence industry is able to mirror our successful commitment in the other sectors of the Canadian industry, and it is time for it to fully compete in the on-going modernization of the Canadian Forces in partnership with the Canadian defence industry.

In a nutshell, we’re here, we’re willing, [and] we’re ready.”