Why Invest in France

France is one of the leading foreign investment recipients in Europe. Its stable economy and high quality of life are among the most frequent reasons for entrepreneurs to choose France as their investment destination. In a report published in 2010 by the Invest in France Agency under the name “France Attractiveness Scoreboard”, France is considered the first choice for foreign investment in Europe and the third in the world. The numerous reasons are among the following ones.

Location

International companies choose France because of its strategic position at the heart of Europe, enabling fast and efficient connection with the rest of the world. Besides, the French infrastructure is well-developed, providing transportation rapidly, be it by railway, road or air.

Market

France is considered to be the second-largest consumer market in Europe, with 65 million inhabitants, and the fifth-largest economy in the world, according to the Invest in France Agency. The same source estimated a total Gross Domestic Product of 1,815 billion EUR in 2010.

Workforce

France has a well-qualified and highly productive labor force, easily adapting to new methods of working. The reason is that French education system is situated at a high level in comparison to other European countries, due to heavy investments in this field. This way, technicians, supervisors, engineers or government employees are trained by specialists in order to do their jobs efficiently. Besides, France is the fifth country as far as the research and development department is concerned. In order to improve this aspect and attract more investments in research and development, the French government decided to introduce tax incentives. 

Taxes

An important incentive for foreign investors is the low set up costs for businesses with foreign capital in France, in comparison to other European countries. In addition to that, the French government offers grants, preferential loans and special tax treatment in some cases. However, a foreign investor needs to obtain a work permit before trying to obtain one of these financial aids.

Progress

France is a country that values innovation, therefore it always seeks the best opportunities to attract new views. The French system changes constantly under the concern of being up to date. Tax reforms are the best examples of progress in France and a special attention to keeping the country’s economy stable.

BridgeWest offers assistance for setting up a company in France, including virtual office and other related services.