Highlights: France was ranked four times in a row by the consulting firm EY as the most attractive destination in Europe for international investors. A little over 1,800 investment decisions were announced in 2023. European countries (Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium and Italy in the lead) are well ahead of the rest of the world, with 65% of foreign investment projects in France. The United States remains the country that invests the most (17% of projects, and almost a third of jobs created or maintained)

Agri-food and health are also among the sectors that most attracted international investors to France last year. However, the number of projects remains stable by…

Foreign investments in France driven by the automobile industry in 2023

Agri-food and health are also among the sectors that most attracted international investors to France last year.

However, the number of projects remains stable compared to the previous year.

The automotive sector has boosted investments in France in 2023 (illustrative image).

AFP - SEBASTIEN BOZON

By: Justine Fontaine Follow

Between 2019 and 2022, France was ranked four times in a row by the consulting firm EY as the most attractive destination in Europe for international investors.

We will have to wait a few more weeks to find out if the country has kept its place in 2023. In the meantime, the public agency Business France published this Thursday the figures for foreign investments recorded in France last year.

Read also “France 2030” investment plan: Emmanuel Macron’s first announcements

A little over 1,800 investment decisions were announced in 2023. The method of calculation has been slightly modified compared to last year, but the figures are stable from one year to the next if we take takes into account the same method as in 2022. These decisions should make it possible to create or maintain more than 59,000 jobs within three years, assures Business France.

Nearly half of the investments (47%) concern business creations.

The other half corresponds to extensions of existing sites (45%) and a handful of factory takeovers.

Electric cars

The automotive sector, driven by projects linked to the manufacturing of electric cars and their batteries, is the most attractive sector (19% of investment decisions), followed by the food industry (10%) and health.

Last year, the Danish pharmaceutical laboratory Novo Nordisk, for example, announced that it was investing 2.1 billion to expand one of its factories.

The executive attributes France's attractiveness in particular to the reductions in production taxes announced since the arrival of Emmanuel Macron as president in 2017.

Europe in the lead

Together, European countries (Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium and Italy in the lead) are well ahead of the rest of the world, with 65% of foreign investment projects in France.

For the second year in a row, however, the United States remains the country that invests the most (17% of projects, and almost a third of jobs created or maintained).

According to

the barometer of the American Chamber of Commerce

in France (AmCham) and the Bain & Company firm, published this Wednesday, February 28, 2024, there are more American business leaders (36% of respondents compared to 22% a year later). early) to anticipate positive changes for industrial activity in France in the coming years.

On the other hand, their perception of France is less good than in 2021: only half of them (52%) have a positive opinion of the country, compared to 64% two years earlier.

Among the grievances of American leaders, the social climate: after the intense mobilization of the French against the pension reform, 81% of the companies questioned believe that this penalizes the attractiveness of the country.

Foreign investments in France driven by the automobile industry in 2023

Foreign investments in France driven by the automobile industry in 2023

Electric cars

Europe in the lead

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