June 24, 2011

10 reasons to invest in France


#1. France: A global economic power
- The 2nd largest economic power in the European Union.
- The world’s 6th largest exporter of goods and 4th largest exporter of services.
- 39 French companies among the world’s leading 500 (Germany: 37, United Kingdom: 29)
#2. A country open to foreign investment
- The leading FDI recipient in Europe, with US$57.4 billion of inflows in 2010, and the 3rd leading FDI recipient in the world, after the United States and China. Source: UNCTAD estimates, 2011
- The 2nd leading recipient in Europe for the number of job-creating foreign investments and the leading recipient of projects in industry and renewable energy. Source: Ernst & Young, 2011
- Over 20,000 foreign companies already profit from doing business in France: they employ over 2 million people, accounting for 22% of all corporate R&D in France, one-third of all French exports and 42.3% of holdings in the market capitalization of CAC 40 companie
s (amounting to €404.5 billion).

#3. A dynamic market, a gateway to Europe, the Middle East & Africa
- France is at the heart of the European Single Market of 500 million consumers.
- 2nd largest market in Europe: 64.7 million inhabitants
- The world’s leading tourist destination: 74 million tourists
- 2nd highest birth rate in Europe, after Ireland. France accounts for 46% of the natural population increase in the EU.
#4. Excellent connections throughout Europe and worldwide
- Paris Charles de Gaulle: ranked 2nd by passenger numbers and 1st for cargo in Europe 
- Paris Le Bourget: the leading business airport in Europe
#5. A very cost-effective location
- Business setup and operating costs* are lower in France than in Germany, Italy, the United States and Japan.
- Average labor costs per employee are lower in France than in Italy, the
Netherlands, the United States, Germany and Japan.

    #6. A highly qualified, highly productive workforce
    - France is one of the countries in the world which invests the most in its education system (6% of GDP spent on education, higher than the OECD average of 5.7%).
    - France has the 3rd most productive workforce in the world after Norway and the United States.

      #7. Tax measures to foster competitiveness
      - Abolition of the local business tax (taxe professionnelle) on productive investments
      France’s Research Tax Credit program was renewed in late 2010, it remains the most attractive R&D tax incentive program in Europe

        #8. A country prioritizing R&D and innovation
        - France is ranked 2nd in Europe and 6th in the world for the number of international patents filed.
        - France is the 2nd leading recipient in Europe of foreign investment projects in R&D.

          #9. Promoting sustainable growth and the knowledge economy
          - Green growth: France’s “Green New Deal”
          - The “Greater Paris” project to turn Paris and the surrounding region (Ile de France) into a dynamic, attractive high-flying “world city”
          - The “National Investment Program”: €35 billion of funding for 5 strategic areas

            #10. Renowned quality of life
            - Joint 2nd in Europe for quality of life, after Malta.
            - The leading tourist destination in the world (ahead of the United States and Spain for visitor numbers)
            - The “French gastronomic meal” was also added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in November 2010.

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