This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

International Investing - The Francophone World

The world is a big place – there are over 190 countries and 7 billion people in the world, which really boggles the mind if you sit down and think about it. In addition to being an interesting intellectual exercise, this fact can also have broad implications for your investments and your financial future. It is easy to stay focused on U.S. firms, news, and events during the day-to-day grind, but it is always important to be aware of your surroundings – especially when it comes to your investments. With that in mind, this series of articles will focus on countries and investment opportunities outside the United States that you might not usually hear about.

As always, be sure to consult a financial services professional familiar with both the potential investment and your unique financial situation before embarking on any investment program.

The Francophone World

Find out what's happening in Nanuetwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Imagine, for a second, that you are looking to invest in an area or country that has economic potential. You come across a nation that has 220 million people, a varying geographic base, different cultural preferences, abundant natural resources, a long history of technological innovation, and whose language is recognized as an official language at the U.N. It sounds like this would certainly be a country/area to consider investing in, or at least learning more about, correct? The bad news is this – this is not a country.

The good news? It’s the world, or, more specifically the Francophone world. French is the official language in France (obviously), as well as 14 other countries. These far-ranging countries include Luxembourg, Mali, and the Central African Republic (where French military forces have been deployed recently). In addition to being the official language in 15 nations, French is one of the official languages in numerous other nations, including Switzerland, Rwanda, and Belgium. Do not forget the French Canadians — the Francophone population in Quebec has a powerful cultural influence there, as well as in the Northeastern U.S.

Find out what's happening in Nanuetwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Francophone influence on the global economy is significant – in addition to being the dominant language on the 3rd largest television network in world (TV5MONDE), the French-speaking zone accounts for 19% of world trade in goods. In addition to the current economic clout that the Francophone world currently wields, the future economic potential is enormous. 60% of French speakers are under 30 years old, and the concentration of speakers in Africa, approximately 100 million people, in a region which is poised for economic growth during the 21st century, means increasing numbers of French-speakers in the world in the years ahead. This economic zone, and cultural powerhouse, is certainly something to keep an eye on moving forward.

FYI – The International Francophone Holiday is March 20th!
Happy Reading!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?