According to the 2019 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index (FDI), published by consulting firm AT Kearney, France is ranked fifth (+2) in the top 10 most attractive countries in the world, in the next three years.
Having performed well since 2012, France is now third in Europe after Germany (2nd) and the United Kingdom (4th). France was ranked 17th in 2012, 13th in 2013, 10th in 2014 and 8th in 2015 and 2016.
There are several elements in this latest report that point to France’s progress and positive standing:
- The positive impact of Emmanuel Macron's presidential election in 2017, which has profoundly changed the image of France among foreign business managers.
- The sustained undertaking of effective government reforms, with two noteworthy examples including the Action Plan for Business Growth and Transformation (PACTE) and the reduction in corporate taxation, with a corporate tax rate of 25% by 2022.
- The country’s key strengths (innovation, research, tax environment, etc.) ensure France remains an attractive investment location.
This increase in the index is further supported by the record number of foreign investments recorded by Business France in 2018 – 1,323 new foreign investment decisions – which led to 30,000 jobs being created or maintained. These take the form of new production facilities and the expansion of existing activities in France, with company examples including Allergen, Merck and SAP.
