French is the eleventh most widely-spoken language in the world
French is the official language of 33 countries in the world
French is spoken in two of the G7 countries
French is the mother tongue of 80 million people, and 250 million people
around the world understand, speak, read or write French
French-speaking Africa represents an area larger than the USA
French is the most widely taught second language after English
Over 20,000 English words have their origins in French
Students and researchers who know French have access to these works
for several years before they are translated into English. Many significant
works are never translated and remain accessible only to those who know
the language
France is one of the world's major foreign tourist destinations (60 million
a year)
France is Europe's foremost investor abroad
France is in fourth position in terms of world power and it does not have
the debt problems facing many other major industrialised nations (a
positive sign for joint projects, business and scientific co-operation)
France has the fourth largest economy in the world after the US,
Japan and Germany
France is the fourth largest producer of automobiles in the world
(Renault, Peugeot, Citroën) and the third largest exporter
France is the second largest exporter of agricultural products in
theworld after the U.S.
France is the fourth largest exporting nation of the world