France is the most attractive country in Europe for foreign investors for the fifth consecutive year, according to a study

According to the EY 2024 barometer, France is number one in 11 out of 15 sectors, notably in automobiles, industrial equipment, logistics, pharmaceuticals and electronics.

For the fifth consecutive year, France is the first most attractive country in Europe for foreign investors, ahead of the United Kingdom and Germany, according to the EY 2024 barometer of attractiveness in France. In 2023, 1,194 investment projects by foreign companies were registered in France, i.e. 5% less than the previous year. On the other hand, 40,000 jobs were created thanks to these foreign companies, which is 4% more than in 2022.

It is the skills, infrastructure and the French market that propel the country to first place in the ranking. France is number one in 11 out of 15 sectors, notably in automobiles, industrial equipment, logistics, pharmaceuticals and electronics.

This tricolor influence could last until 2027, since 76% of investors questioned believe that “France will improve over the next three years”. The quality and availability of labor is the first argument put forward (for 25% of investors), tied with “the legal and regulatory environment”reveals the barometer.

In France, 1% of companies are foreign (i.e. 17,500 companies), they employ 2.2 million people and contribute to 16% of GDP, according to INSEE.

Methodology: EY Barometer on the perception and expectations of international decision-makers in terms of France’s attractiveness, collected from 204 international decision-makers from 23 countries, from February 13 to March 19, 2024. The structure of the sample is representative of investments international, whether it be their geographical origin (largely from the European Union), their sectoral origin, or the size of the companies.