II. ESTABLISHING IN FRANCE
D. Certain Rules Concerning Some
Specific Fields of Services.
d. Data Processing
Neither the conditions of access
to professions related to data processing
nor its practice are governed by any particular
rules or regulations.
Thus, no specific degree is required in order
to declare oneself, manufacturer, designer,
consultant, etc. in data processing. Also,
there is no professional organization supervising
the persons or firms pursuing these activities.
Such persons or firms can if they
so desire, become members of associations,
the main objective of which is to promote
and defend the professional, moral and economic
interests of their members.
Thus, Canadian and U.S. residents
can have access to the French data processing
market.
An administrative organization
called Agence de l'Information (Information
Agency) has been created. This Agency is responsible
for promoting data processing.
With this objective in view, the
Agency:
provides its support and cooperation
to public and private research concerning
the use of data processing and the techniques
which are liable to encourage their development.
investigates new uses of data processing
investigates and participates in the experimentation
of new applications of data processing.
organizes the collection and distribution
of French and foreign information about the
use of data processing and the research which
is done in this field.
aims at acquainting potential users with data
processing.
participates in education of potential users
and in disseminating the new applications
of data processing, and in the preparation
of corresponding methodologies.
gives its opinion regarding the granting of
government assistance to particular projects
in data processing technology research.
informs the government of all the problems
encountered in the field of data processing.
Data processing and electronics
are considered by the Direction du Trésor
(Treasury Department) to be sensitive fields
of activity.
Accordingly, prior declarations of foreign
investments in France in the field of data
processing are subject to more detailed scrutiny
than in the case of investments made in other
fields of activity.
The examination is carried out
by the Direction du Trésor.
Although this remains the exception,
the Direction du Trésor has exercised
its right to oppose the investment when the
latter had a direct relation with the data
processing or electronics industry.
In certain cases, the Direction
du Trésor subjects the investment to
certain conditions.
For example, in the case of a
commercial investment, it may prohibit the
importation of certain products, or, in the
case of an industrial investment, it may require
that a percentage of the end product be manufactured
by French contractors.
