Invest in France Agency: 2011 report [fr]

France remained attractive to investors in 2011, announced a report issued by the Invest in France Agency titled “2011 Report: Job-creating foreign investment in France.” According to the report, 698 investment decisions were taken by foreign companies that will create or maintain 27,958 jobs. France is the second largest recipient in Europe of internationally mobile physical investment from all over the world (40 different countries in 2011). Europe remained the leading source region, responsible for 60% of investment decisions in 2011, while the United States was the leading source country. The share of investments from emerging economies remained stable (6% of all projects).

The diversity of France’s regions, along with the quality of its infrastructure and its highly skilled workforce, is a powerful factor in France’s investment attractiveness. While foreign companies decided on investment locations throughout France, five regions (Ile-de-France, Rhône-Alpes, Alsace, Midi-Pyrénées and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) hosted 67% of new projects.

Canadian companies in France
There are over 240 Canadian companies doing business in France, employing over 10,000 people. In 2011, Canada was the ninth largest investor in France, with 24 new projects that will create or maintain 808 jobs. In 2011, investments in business-to-business services accounted for one-third of all Canadian projects in France. There was a sharp rise in the consulting, engineering and business services sector. Over one-third of investments in 2011 were in the Rhône-Alpes region (38%).

France as a recipient of Canadian investment in Europe
In 2011, France was the second largest recipient of job-creating investment from Canada, after the United Kingdom, which hosted 33% of Canadian job-creating projects in Europe.