France is looking to increase its presence in English speaking countries and will use South Africa as a platform to do this, economic and commercial counsellor for trade and economic mission for the Embassy of France in South Africa Yves de Ricaud said on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry breakfast meeting in Johannesburg.

In Southern Africa, France was mainly exporting to French-speaking countries, De Ricaud said.

“French exports in countries such as the Seychelles and Madagascar have a market share of about 10%, which is much more than the world average market share of about 5%,” he stated.

South Africa’s French export market share was about 4%.

"One way to increase France’s market share in other regions besides South Africa is to use the country as a platform," De Ricaud said.   He said that France played an important part in South Africa's economy, employing some 30 000 people in 170 subsidiaries.