Chosen based on their competence and experience in the international field, the "French Foreign Trade Advisers" (CCEF) are appointed, for a three-year term by decree of the Prime Minister on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Trade.
 
The Directors are chosen from among leaders, entrepreneurs and independent professionals, with responsibilities and contributing to France's international reputation. Directors of professional organizations and associations, as well as university students with recognized competencies in the field of international economic relations, may also be appointed as Foreign Trade Advisers in France.
 
For more than 115 years, these advisors have voluntarily put their experience at the service of the French economic presence in the world:
• Advising public authorities;
• Sharing their knowledge with companies, namely SMEs, which they sponsor, promoting their development abroad;
• Raising awareness amongst young people to professions in the international area and ensuring the dissemination of International Volunteering in Companies;
• Promoting France as an attractive country to international investors.
 
In Portugal, about thirty CCEF carry out their mission under the ambassador's tutelage. The CCEFs to exercise in Portugal have been mentors for several local initiatives over the last few years, such as:
 
• the annual organization of the Franco-Portuguese Economic Conference aimed at highlighting the importance of French investment in Portugal and its contribution to the country's economic development;
• the organization of a program of French classes at universities, “le français langue d'opportunités”, reinforcing French as an asset for insertion in the labor market.

CCEF-Portugal

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