Attracting Chinese investments has become a key priority for the business and political leaders of Marseille, in the South of France, but often also a convenient opportunity to push their own agenda. The port of Marseille has been extended to accommodate for a growing trade with China that might never materialise because of the competition from other Mediterranean ports, and other infrastructure projects are on the cards. Meanwhile, large companies based in Marseille such as CMA-CGM are seeking to cash in on the city’s historical role as a hub for trading with Africa to develop strategic alliances with Chinese corporations.
By Observatoire des multinationales