these French companies that remain working in Russia

Raketa is one of the oldest watch manufacturers in Russia. The brand was bought by a Frenchman in 2011. Since the intervention in Ukraine, the plant, located near Saint Petersburg (Russia)never stopped working. Despite economic sanctions, the company refuses to abandon production and the 140 local employees.

“The day when the factory stops, and we lose the know-how, it is almost impossible to resuscitate it. (…) It’s a very complicated ecosystem, and above all, we have a moral duty vis-à-vis these old watchmakers who continue to work with us“, comments David Henderson-Stewartthe Director General. With its 1,200 companies, France is Russia’s leading foreign employer. It is impossible to know precisely how many companies have left the country. Some, like Auchan and Leroy Merlin, never closed. Others, like the Vinci group, remain just as active, as do many SMEs.