France Tops Foreign Investments in Europe

- The French government's strong reforms over the past 3 years and growing foreign investor confidence, especially from Indian investors, have enabled France to be ranked first among FDI destinations in Europe NEW DELHI, June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Business France's 2019 Annual Report on Foreign Investment in France was discussed yesterday in a video conference held by the French Prime Minister, Mr Edouard Philippe, along with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire; the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian; the Minister of State attached to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Ms Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Also in attendance were a selected group of CEOs of leading multinationals, including Mr Anand Mahindra - Chairman of Mahindra Group from India. This follows the publication last week of the EY European Attractiveness Survey, which highlighted France as the most attractive country for foreign investors in Europe. According to both reports, France is an increasingly attractive investment location, with a total of 1,468 investment projects in 2019, up by11% compared to 2018, creating or maintaining 39,542 jobs (with a growth of 30% compared to 2018). 52% of these project decisions were investments at new sites, 25% were made in manufacturing activities, 11% in R&D and engineering projects, while 37 projects were linked to global European HQs.

Behind these outstanding results of 2019 are the French economy's resilience and the vast program of 'pro-business' reforms undertaken by the French government since the election of President Emmanuel Macron and to simplify and modernize the French economy. Brexit has also led to a change in foreign investors that had earlier chosen the United Kingdom as a European hub. Therefore, some companies are moving their European HQ to the Continent; major financial groups that have decided to relocate their operations from London to Paris include the European Banking Authority and the American insurance business Chubb. Indian Investments in France Indian investors, aware of France's new position, have significantly increased their investment in France. In 2019, 18 Indian companies decided to invest/re-invest in France, creating or maintaining two times more jobs than in 2018, bringing the total number of Indian companies in France to more than 120, with a global employment level of 8,000 jobs.

H.E. Mr Emmanuel Lenain, the Ambassador of France to India stated: "I am proud to see increasing Indian investments in France, and impressed by their value addition as they often involve decision-making centres, production/manufacturing operations and logistics. The strong presence of Indian businessmen at major events in France shows how attractive France is for India. The participation of a dozen Indian CEOs during the visit of the French President to Reunion Island on October 23, 2019 and the participation of seven eminent Indian CEOs at Choose France, on January 20, 2020 at Versailles bear witness to this. The French government's decisive reforms over the past 3 years and growing foreign investor confidence – particularly from India – have enabled France to rank as the top FDI destination in Europe." "The diversity of France's territories continues to drive their attractiveness among Indian investors: Paris region received four projects, while Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Lyon) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur attracted three projects each. Investments were mainly made in the software and IT services sector, while the pharmaceuticals/biotechnologies sector was responsible for nearly 30% of jobs generated by Indian investment," added Mr Christophe Commeau, Trade & Investment Commissioner for India, Acting Executive Director for Business France in South Asia. Audrey Lucbernet, Head of Invest in France Department - Business France in India, highlighted three Indian success stories in France respectively from a start-up, a mid-size company and a big group which benefited from a soft landing in France by Business France: • Dualeap: an innovative technological solutions start-up, which decided to establish its headquarters in Toulouse to develop and market its ClearBox aerospace solution.

• GeneStore: a specialist in genomics, which chose France for its first European site, by taking over the cell biology research company ICDD, located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, from where they are currently developing COVID-19 test kits to fight against the pandemic. • Modi Group: representing the famous Indian cosmetic brand Colorbar, which acquired the French company Provaine brand holder of the customizable varnish 'La nail revolution' in Toulon (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). These investment projects played an essential role in France's attractiveness and contributed to make France the most attractive country in Europe for the first time in 2019.

More than a confirmation, France's attractiveness is a real statement, showcasing the solidity of its economic fundamentals on which the post-COVID-19 recovery plan will be able to rely, with a decisive shift towards a carbon-neutral industry in a business-minded environment and a renewed international and European-level playing field. Read the 2019 Annual Report here: https://lnkd.in/dYm7w5i About Business France: Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It promotes France's companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and runs the VIE international internship programme.

Business France has 1,500 personnel, in France and 64 countries across the world, who work with a network of public- and private-sector partners. For further information, please visit: www.businessfrance.fr Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1176736/Business_France_Choose_France_Logo.jpg PWR PWR

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