France is developing domestic production of electric vehicle batteries with an eye on industrial independence but Asian experts are proving key in launching operations.

In the Verkor factory outside the northern city of Dunkirk, which will be inaugurated on Thursday, foreign specialists, notably from South Korea and Malaysia, are training the local staff.

Verkor is the third battery gigafactory to open in northern France in a region that has become known as "Battery Valley".

At the AESC factory near the city of Douai, where production has been underway for several months, Chinese engineers and technicians supervise French recruits.

"They are the ones who train us on the equipment, how to operate it, how to fix problems," said Ericka Redjimi, 39.

Redjimi arrived at AESC in May without

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