Fri Mar 21 14:48:30 UTC 2025: ## Indian SMEs Encouraged to Participate in France’s Global Business Forum
**COIMBATORE, March 21, 2025** – Small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in India are being urged to participate in the 2025 Global Business Forum (GBF) in Marseille, France, next month. The event, hosted by the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) from April 6-9, will offer Indian businesses opportunities to forge partnerships, secure funding, and access the European market.
WTCA spokesperson Scott Wang highlighted the significant potential for Indian SMEs in sectors like IT, textiles, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals. He emphasized the growing bilateral trade between India and France, which reached $13.4 billion in 2023, a 7.72% increase year-on-year. France’s role as a key partner for India in defence, aerospace, and sustainable infrastructure, coupled with its large SME sector (approximately 4.3 million in 2023) and access to the European Single Market (500 million consumers), presents considerable opportunities for Indian firms.
The GBF will feature conferences, exhibitions, and networking events focused on free trade, real estate, technology, clean energy, and sustainability. The event follows the success of the inaugural GBF held in Bengaluru in 2024.
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