While many multinationals have announced that they will stop or reduce their activities in Russia, some French groups are reluctant to leave this market, points out a British daily.
Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, many international companies have suspended their activities in the country ruled by Vladimir Putin. But not all of them, and not to the same extent. France, which for years has been the largest foreign employer in Russia (with a total of 160,000 employees recorded before the war), is thus seen as a bad student. “These French companies that ignore the boycott against Russia and continue to do business”, title the Daily Telegraph in an article listing the main French groups that continue their activities on Russian soil.
In first place in the viewfinder of the British conservative daily: the empire of the Mulliez family, which notably includes Auchan, Decathlon and Leroy Merlin. The family still owns “absolute power from behind the scenes”, according to the British daily, and she “uses it concretely to support the efforts of the Kremlin”.
Withdrawals, suspensions, freezing of investments
the Daily Telegraph, often critical of France, takes as proof that both Auchan and Leroy Merlin or Decathlon – respectively 311, 112 and 60 stores in Russia – remain active in this market, while “many of their American and British competitors have pledged to withdraw from the country”.
Among the other companies mentioned: Total, Sanofi or even Danone, which did not withdraw but suspended all new investments in Russia, according to the list established by Yale University. Antoine de Saint-Affrique, boss of Danone, invoked on March 8 face au Financial Times “a responsibility to the people we feed, the farmers who supply us with milk and the tens of thousands of people who depend on us.”
Among these companies, it is Leroy Merlin which goes the furthest, estimates the Telegraph. While its Swedish competitor Ikea has suspended its activities, the DIY chain reportedly sent a letter to its Russian suppliers on March 11, which the daily consulted. In this letter, it states that it is ready to discuss the increase in production costs, as well as an increase in deliveries, in reaction to the disappearance of certain competitors from the market.
The business world follows the attitude of President Macron
In general, the business world shows “less aggressive” towards Russia in France than in the United Kingdom or the United States. “No less than 35 companies from CAC 40 remain active in Russia, French media report. It can be said that French business circles have largely followed the example of President Macron, so as not to anger Vladimir Putin and his accomplices.
It must be said that the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, stood out on March 17 by praising the Russian policy of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Source
Atlanticist and anti-European in substance, pugnacious and committed in form, it is the leading conservative newspaper of reference. Founded in 1855, it is the last of the quality dailies not to have abandoned the large format. His schedule is
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