Attractiveness – Results of the EY barometer (15 May 2025)

France is proud to be the leading European destination for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) for the sixth consecutive year, ahead of the United Kingdom and Germany. This achievement came during a difficult and uncertain period, both politically and economically, and during a year (2024) when Europe experienced a reduction in FDI. France also remains the leading European destination for industrial investment and R&D. It has bolstered its position as a leader in artificial intelligence a few months after President Macron announced a record €109 billion in investments at the AI Action Summit on February 6.

A few days before the 8th edition of the Choose France summit, these latest figures underscore the impact of the reforms undertaken since 2017 to make the country more competitive and more attractive to foreign investors, as well as the French economy’s assets in a very competitive international environment. France remains the top European destination for these Foreign Direct Investments, especially in sectors that are strategic for our sovereignty and our future: quantum AI, energy, R&D, the agri-foods industry and artificial intelligence. These investments benefit all French regions: 75% of them are outside Ile-de-France, and 33% of new and expanded facilities are located in areas with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants and account for 30% of the jobs created there.

This barometer is also a call for French and European mobilization. The EY report emphasizes that in order to restore confidence, France must work on its competitiveness and industrial sovereignty while maintaining its commitment to innovation, its support for entrepreneurs and its investments in infrastructure. It is this approach that the government is taking, under the leadership of President Macron, particularly with regard to the country’s reindustrialization.