Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press

DJERBA, Tunisia – French-speaking countries must “do more business with each other,” Prime Minister François Legault said while attending the Francophonie Economic Forum in Djerba on Sunday.

Around 500 business people from the 88 member states and governments of Francophonie gathered in a hotel on the Tunisian island on the edge of the Francophonie summit.

In his 15-minute speech, Mr. Legault said Quebec, which trades primarily with the United States, wanted to “diversify” its markets.

He urged the forum to “rebuild our supply chains.” “What has happened in recent years has been tough, (…) so all the more reason to work together,” he pleaded.

Earlier in the day, Mr Legault said he wanted to double trade with France at a meeting with the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF).

Currently, $5 billion in sales is “peanuts,” he reiterated to the business crowd, eliciting laughter and applause.

In short, he sees Quebec as “the gateway to the French-speaking countries of America” ​​while he wants “you, the French-speaking countries, to be the gateway to Europe, to Africa”.

Why do business with Germans or Chinese in the transport sector when the Alstom company employs “many more French-speaking workers”? he asked.

China left out?

When asked about Quebec-China relations during a news conference, François Legault suggested they had cooled.

Among Québec’s export markets, China is second only to the United States. Québec has four representations in China: in Beijing, Shanghai, Quingdao and Shenzhen.

“All of us, the developed world, have reservations about China,” Mr. Legault said, sweeping away the idea of ​​following the example of his predecessors and going to the Middle Kingdom himself.

“That is not planned at the moment.” The last to lead a mission to China in 2018 was former Liberal Prime Minister Philippe Couillard.

François Legault points out that China poses a particular environmental challenge.

“There are countries in Europe that have started to ensure that there is compensation when environmental regulations are not respected. It’s something to watch,” he said.

next meetings

The Prime Minister of Quebec is leaving Djerba after meeting a host of dignitaries including the Presidents of France, Emmanuel Macron, and that of Tunisia, Kaïs Saïed.

He will also have debated for the first time since his re-election with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, whose comments on the health transfers file he says are “encouraging”.

On Kaïs Saïed, who has been accused of rolling back democracy, Mr Legault said: “We want Tunisia to be a model, there is still a lot to do (…) and we hope that the elections on December 17th will go well. happen.”

Quebec also announced at the summit an investment of US$10 million over three years to train the labor force in Francophonie countries.

It will host the next Francophone Business Meeting (REF) in June next year “to increase economic and commercial exchanges between French-speaking countries”.

The next Francophonie Summit will be held in Paris in 2024, announced the reappointed Secretary General of the International Organization of Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo.