The Foreign Trade and Investment Institute of Castilla-La Mancha (IPEX) has organised a finishes and interiors sector business meeting in Paris on 12 May for furniture and decoration companies in the region in partnership with the Spanish National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters (ANIEME) and the Franco-Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris.

The event falls under the International Promotion Plan being implemented by the IPEX for the finishes and interiors sector (furniture, decoration and home furnishings) in 2022 and consisted of a one-day business meeting at a business centre in central Paris, attended by agents, high-end stores, interior designers and decorators aimed at presenting the offer from five companies based in the region. This was the fifth time in recent years that such an event has been organised by ANIEME for Spanish companies in the French capital.

France has one of the ten largest national GDPs in the world. French GDP per capita stood at 33,960 euros in 2020, occupying 26th place in the global GDP per capita ranking of 196 countries. The most recent year-on-year CPI rate of change published in France was 2.8%, in December 2021.

The finishes and interiors macroeconomic sector (led by furniture) encompasses business activities that include strategic sectors for the region of Castilla-La Mancha, such as home textiles, doors, ceramic, lighting and decoration.

The consumption of furniture in France remains stable but domestic production in the country is falling and cannot meet demand. This is creating certain import opportunities, mainly for intra-Community supply.

IPEX covered the costs for the preliminary networking, organising the event and renting the space, later supporting companies financially for their flights and accommodation.