Cooperation of Russia and France: Regional Level

The article is devoted to the analysis of the inter-territorial cooperation of Russia and France at the present stage. It is the cooperation at the level of individual territories that become one of the forms in which countries are interested in, and France is not an exception. Russian regions also seek to develop relationships with the French side though this direction of foreign economic activity is not a priority for them. Authors’ attention is focused on those regions, which are the most involved in the investment ties between the two countries. Regional authorities play a particular role in the development of inter-territorial economic cooperation that is reflected in the analysis of activities of the regional authorities of France and Russia in the direction of development of bilateral ties in crisis conditions. Forms and dynamics of cooperation are considered; prospects of Russian-French interregional ties in the current political and economic conditions is assessed. Russian regions with comprehensive cooperation with French side are given. Investment cooperation is the most important for regional economy and only a part of French regions and of the subjects of the Russian Federation is involved. A characteristic feature of such cooperation is the concentration of investments of both countries mainly in the capital territories of France and Russia, as well as the territorial narrowness of investment activity in general that is predefined by the investment strategies of big Russian and French companies. Special attention is paid to the companies, which have the most geographically diversified structure. The experience of the Kaluga region as one of the active participants of the Russian-French inter-territorial cooperation is analyzed at regional level. Kaluga region in particular adopted French experience of regional innovation development. Nowadays Kaluga region is one of the biggest recipients of French companies’ FDI. Their projects are concentrated in the field of mechanical engineering, food and chemical industry, and the construction materials industry. The existing level of inter-territorial cooperation between France and Russia allows us to say that this form of cooperation is perspective and will develop in the future. 

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