The Invest in France Agency (IFA) is the national agency responsible for promoting, prospecting and facilitating international investment in France.
It also coordinates initiatives to promote the economic attractiveness of France.
The IFA network operates worldwide, with offices in France as well as in North America, Asia and Europe.
In France, the IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors outstanding business opportunities and customized services.
Invest in France - French
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Discover what investors who France have to say:
Narayana Murthy
chairman of INFOSYS
Infosys is looking to expand its presence in France. What makes France such an attractive investment?
France has lots of good things in its favor. It is the fifth-largest IT market in the world. It is known for its excellent talent pool - particularly in high-tech sectors, thanks to its Grandes Ecoles and its focus on advanced industries. And of course it also has a strong base of Global 2000 customers.
Therefore France is clearly an important market and any company that intends to grow globally has to have its focus on France.
How does being in France help your business?
France is one of the G7 countries. It has tremendous influence in Africa and in parts of Asia. And France is a premier member of the EU. Therefore succeeding in the EU and in Francophone countries becomes easier if we succeed in France.
Does the current economic climate help your business in France?
Relatively speaking, France has not been hit that badly by the economic turmoil, especially compared to some other large economies. It is in these times that companies are looking to gain and better their competitive advantage. We believe that we bring competitive advantage to our customers via our global talent pool, our expertise in a lot of different industry verticals and our ability to partner with customers across geographic boundaries.
These are some of the key strengths which we bring. And in this time of globalization, some of the larger French customers are clearly looking for partners that can help them: not only in France or in specific markets, but globally. So yes, I think that this downturn has in a way been a boon for us. We believe that our mindshare with certain large customers has significantly increased, and we expect that to drive a lot of business.
What changes have you noticed in France since you first came here in 1989?
There have been a lot of positive changes. France has become more and more globally integrated. It has a vibrant economy and there is much greater cooperation between France and Asia, particularly China and India. France has also become much more open in the last 10 years or so. There is a greater focus on inviting companies to invest in France, there is a greater focus on integrating with the global economy.
As French companies become increasingly global, a lot of them are investing far away from Europe, which probably wasn't the case 10 years ago. And that's where it opens up opportunities for companies like us.
Is France a more attractive place to invest today than it was before?
France is an important IT market. It is a place where it has become much easier to do business. It is a pivot in the EU. It has enormous influence in terms of other Francophone countries. It has a very productive and very advanced talent force.
If you look at all these things, France has definitely become a lot more attractive today than it was before.
How would you characterize the French labor force?
It's probably one of the most productive workforces that we have. They bring an extraordinary amount of talent and innovative thinking. At Infosys, while we want to become global, we still have a large percentage of Indian employees. Our strategic objective is to have an increased percentage of non-Indian workers. Bringing French employees into the global fold enables us to learn and to revitalize our own thinking: about our global delivery model, how we need to change, etc. Leveraging French employees is also useful for delivering other European projects: for example, we use a lot of our French employees to deliver projects in Switzerland or in Germany, etc.
So we also consider our French employees as a talent pool, allowing us to build up a base in France but also to service customers in other countries. We're doing projects in Ghana and Nigeria where we are actually using some of our French consultants.
You have described France as being at the cutting edge of technological innovation in Europe. What makes French technology special?
France is a leader in transportation, particularly in train technology. It's a leader in airplane technology. It's a leader in high energy physics. It's a leader in nuclear physics. It's a leader in nuclear energy. It's a leader in satellites. It's a leader in numerical control.
There are many areas in which France is clearly the leader. Each one of these areas requires tremendous application of ideas to make companies working in those areas more efficient, more productive and more customer-friendly. That provides us with a great opportunity to make French companies even more efficient and productive than they already are and to add value for their customers, not just in France but throughout the world.
Success stories - Read more testimonials
Horacio ARAGONES
FORJAZ Executive Vice-President of EMBRAER
France is the site for both your European headquarters and a separate maintenance center. What made you choose France?
Its linked to our company history. We launched Embraer Aviation International - our first company in France - in May 1983. We had just signed contracts with the French air force and the French navy to supply 43 Embraer 121 Xingu aircraft. We had also sold civil aircraft to French regional airlines, starting with Air Littoral in 1977. So naturally we needed to have the proper infrastructure in place to provide product support for these aircraft. Our headquarters in France was initially intended to offer support for our products in Europe - and France in particular - and to house a marketing and sales team. Originally our sales and marketing team, product support and warehouse were housed at Le Bourget airport. In 2006 we decided to move our facilities to Villepinte, close to Paris-CDG airport at Roissy. At that point we expanded our marketing and sales teams, which support our civil, executive and defense product lines. Our warehouse is now at the same location. Our old unit at Le Bourget has been refitted and now operates as a dedicated maintenance center for our executive aircraft. I should also point out that our headquarters in France is responsible for Europe, the Middle East and Africa too. Our operations in all three of those territories are coordinated from France. You could have based your European headquarters anywhere in Europe, so why did it end up being in France? Was it by accident? Or because of that contract with the French armed forces? Or for other reasons? We had already sold a number of aircraft to French civil airlines. So the prospect of obtaining much larger contracts with the French air force or the French navy was an additional factor that prompted us to choose France as the natural location for our European operations.
Let's move away from the history a little and talk about the present. How does having your regional headquarters in France help your business?
It does help. Being close to Paris-CDG airport gives us an effective hub to distribute spare parts throughout Europe and the Middle East. And it's a location which enables us to transfer our workforce to different locations in Europe and in Africa, quickly and easily. France offers a combination of good infrastructure and good location.
What are the advantages of a French workforce?
Well, I think they are very well educated. There is a natural proximity between Brazilian and French culture. There are close historical ties between the two countries, so I think that most of our Brazilian employees who are posted in France find it an easy place to live. We have a good relationship with our French workforce.
Embraer has been in France since 1983. How would you sum up the experience?
It has been a very positive one. As I said before, we have a truly European distribution center with excellent infrastructure and an extremely efficient hub at Roissy. We have had excellent customers in France: Air France and its regional subsidiaries have been very important customers for Embraer. So all in all, it has been a very positive experience for almost 30 years now.
What changes have you noticed in France during that time?
There have been several significant and noticeable changes: the integration into the European Union, the acceptance of the Euro as a currency, the privatization of several key French companies. We now see a country which is more capital-orientated. We have also noticed that English is spoken much more freely today. Previously - I don't know if it was a question of national pride or what - there was much more reluctance to speak English. But today, the use of English is widespread. That makes a big difference, because English is the international business language. Wherever you go in the world, you naturally have to speak English. It's worth mentioning that although we are based in Brazil, all our technical documents are produced in English because our aircraft are certified in different nations of the world and English is the international technical language.
Have any recent changes in French regulations made it easier for Embraer to do business here?
Yes, I would mention the improvement in immigration procedures, which are easier and more flexible today; new laws providing tax exemptions on certain additional sources of income; the changes to the local business tax which are underway; VAT credits paid on a monthly basis; and new openings for mutual agreements to terminate contracts.
Is France a more attractive place to invest in today than it was before?
France is certainly more attractive today than it was before. We see France as a more open country with a more diverse culture. So, yes indeed.
What are Embraer's future plans in France?
We are very solid in France and the tendency is to stay and grow. But I should also emphasize that Embraer, as an aerospace company, tends to adopt an international approach. That is the natural and inevitable tendency, not only for our company but for all aerospace companies in the world. So yes, we have plans in France, but the underlying tendency is to extend and enlarge our presence beyond the Brazilian borders.
I know that you have a significant presence in Portugal. There are a lot of Portuguese expatriates in France. Does that make any difference to your work?
Well, part of our workforce in France is made up of Portuguese nationals who have lived in France for a long time. It's not a major factor, but it is positive to have people who are fluent in both French and Portuguese.
Is France business-friendly?
In general, yes. We still see some reluctance as far as providing services is concerned or in making use of services provided by third parties. We believe that this is something that should be improved in the long term. What kind of services are you talking about? We use all kinds of services: legal counsel; when we think of enlarging our premises, we hire local companies; communications. All that.
If one of your colleagues in Brazil was considering investing in France and asked you for advice, what would you tell them?
I would certainly emphasize the highlights of the French system, like the social protection, the welfare provision and the transport. On the other hand, I would warn him to be careful about the rigidity of the labor laws. The cost of living is also a concern. So I would offer my best understanding of the positive aspects of working in France with the French, along with the points of concern which I have already mentioned.
Have the French authorities provided any particular support or incentives to encourage you to do business here?
Recently, we have been getting a lot of support from the Invest in France Agency. We believe they're moving in the right direction, listening to our difficulties and acting rapidly to solve the problems which exist.
Are there any fields in which you believe France is a world-leader?
Many. We see France as a leader in aviation, both in development and manufacturing. I think Airbus is a true measure of that, Dassault too. They're both top international companies. High speed trains, of course. Nuclear power. Luxury goods. I think these are all good examples.
You mentioned the high speed train and nuclear power. What's your view of French engineers?
If they're not the world leaders, they are certainly part of the top tier. French engineering is some of the best in the world.
On a more personal level, do you get a chance to come to France much yourself?
Yes, two or three times a year. I go to Villepinte, where we have our subsidiary. I usually go to the Paris air show. Whenever I go to Europe, I try to stop in France and discuss matters with our employees in Villepinte: how the company is behaving and how business perspectives are evolving for the company.
And when you are visiting France, outside of work, is anything unmissable for you?
I'm very fond of French culture, so I may be a special case. I like France and I know most of different regions and cities. So I always get a lot of pleasure from taking a couple of days off or a weekend and travelling on the TGV high-speed train to Nancy, or Strasbourg, or the Loire, or Provence. That's something which I always enjoy.
Leo Sun
CEO France of HUAWEI
Huawei is an industrial giant, but your brand is still not very well known in France. What does Huawei do?
We are a telecoms equipment manufacturer and we offer all end-to-end telecom solutions to our customers, who are mainly leading operators in the world. Today we serve more than 35 of the top 50 leading operators in the world like France Telecom, Telefonica, Vodafone, and British Telecom. Huawei has about 87,000 employees worldwide, with more than US $23 billion in sales in 2008, so we can already claim to be quite a big company. Our main research centers are located in India, Russia, and the United States. In Europe we have centers in Sweden and in France. We put our R&D centers wherever the telecom expertise is.
What made Huawei come to France?
Our key value, today, is our innovation ability. And the French market is very dynamic, very innovative: it requires very strong technologies and quality. If you want to be a leading player in the telecom industry, you cannot ignore France. For us, France is the really top strategic country for all Western Europe. A few years ago, we opened an R&D center in Sweden, but it was only to test and improve solutions, we didn't have any sales offices there. Then, we decided to settle in France, where we thought it was very convenient to do both business and research. We were willing to invest here, in order to acquire a wider scope of expertise, not only in the field of wireless technology but also in chipset, optics and many other areas. We knew that in France, we would find a lot of telecom organizations as well as many vendors and leading operators. Competition here is also very strong, so it can help Huawei to grow with a unique value, to keep the leading position in the world. Competition is an asset, in fact.
You created a Research Center in the Ile-de-France region. You are the first Chinese company to be investing in an advanced R&D center in France. Is France the right place for R&D?
In the telecom industry, yes definitely. In Europe, France is one of the countries that has the most talented people in the field of research and development, they are very competent and the supply of human resources is very satisfactory, because France has a long telecom industry history.
At the very beginning, as a Chinese company, Huawei was unknown and needed to put itself in the world, in the market, to show that it was a credible vendor. Luckily, we found some people with very senior expertise, who helped us to through this key period.
We have now three premises in France: Cergy Pontoise, Issy-les-Moulineaux - with commercial business activities as well as R&D activities - and Lannion in Brittany with mainly R&D activities. From the R&D department point of view, our centers are organized as "open platforms" where in future we will be able to implement different targets and new projects. We plan to develop such centers in France. We know we can find people who can develop products, follow up the technologies, and who can look forward to the future. As a subsidiary, we work with engineers who can deploy and maintain the solutions we sell in France.
What is it like doing business with the French?
It's very challenging, because the market is very demanding. But once you're really in, you can show the whole industry around the world that you are qualified and you are really a leading vendor, just because you are successful in France - as well as in Europe. Huawei grew up in France by adapting itself to the social, legal and economical environment. We follow the rules very strictly. Now, we are targeting a leading position in France.
France has many assets to attract Chinese investors: the market, the image of France in the world, all the mature "business ecosystems", a very healthy industry, and a lot of facilities, including good quality transport networks. France is like a hub with links to the UK, Germany, the center of Europe, ports to North Africa and Latin America. France's location at the heart of Europe is very convenient.
Are you aware of French initiatives which could be interesting for your company and facilitate your business, like the research tax credit?
We're aware of that and we have a department who follow up those questions. Actually, we have several exchanges with different organizations like the IFA. They give us a lot of information about new policies, how the French government encourages foreign companies to invest, especially in R&D. New financial policies and reforms such as the research tax credit contributed to our high motivation for choosing France.
Let's say our number one criteria for choosing France was expertise and our second one was financial considerations.
Were you pleasantly surprised by anything when you came to France?
We had many, many surprises! First, French food is even better than I thought! But the big surprise, in particular, is the openness of the market. We thought that it was a very high-end market which would be extremely difficult to enter and that French people might be prejudiced against Chinese companies in general and Huawei in particular. But we now think that it's a very open market. Once you've found the way to prove yourself, demonstrate your credible high-quality technology, then the market opens up for you very easily. That's the really positive surprise we had.
On another hand, we need to improve and stimulate the communication between the French and the Chinese business world, to invest in each other's countries. Both countries will then discover many more opportunities to work together and be able to generate a lot of business.
Suresh Vaswani
jt CEO - IT Business, WIPRO ltd.
How does being in France help your business?
For a company like Wipro - supplying integrated business, technology and process solutions on a global delivery platform - France is a large under-penetrated market. It's a market which has been open to outsourcing but which is still very limited in the context of a global delivery model. However, with the increasing need to be competitive in today's economy, we're seeing more and more interest in that model from French customers.
More importantly, some of the world's biggest and best companies come from France. BNP, SocGen and Credit Agricole are amongst the best in the European banking industry. Lafarge, Total and Sanofi-Aventis are leaders within their respective industries. Helping these organizations to sharpen their competitive edge and being a strategic partner in their transformational journeys would be a source of great pride and satisfaction. Because France is a highly competitive market, what we learn there can serve as a lesson for other markets in Europe. So France is a key focus for Wipro.
What changes have you noticed in France over the past 10 years?
One of the key changes is the opening up of the economy. French companies are becoming more and more international and global. They are open to new ideas and are adapting. The work permit process has also been simplified, enabling a more globalized work ethic and culture. These changes have been very advantageous for us.
Why is France an attractive investment?
France's biggest asset is its combination of engineering and creativity. At our center in Rennes, we have access to top talent in the fields of IT and telecoms. That mix of engineering and creativity is something which France and India have in common. They're both cultures which are grounded in the basics of engineering: how you design a product, what new products to develop for the future, what new technologies to use, and so on. They share a common spirit of innovation through technology and a common culture of engineering. For us, that makes France a great business destination and a very big market.
Is France business-friendly?
We think France is a business-friendly economy. We would never have been able to achieve so much if it was not. You need to get an understanding of the market and the business code. You need to make strategic investments and localize your approach. The most important thing of all is winning the trust of the business community. Once you have established that, then there's no looking back. Our experience in France has been great and we continue to build upon it.
What's the recipe for success in France?
The main thing is building a close relationship with your customers. That means having a local base and investing in human resources who are capable of understanding your customers' point of view and developing that relationship. Understanding your customer doesn't just mean speaking the same language. It means understanding their business and their culture too. So the key investment is in constructing teams who can bring us closer to our customers. It's about localizing our model to create strong customer relationships.
Ling Cheng
ZTE- West European CEO
Why did ZTE choose France as the site for its European headquarters?
First of all, because France occupies a central position in Europe. Europe doesn't have many big cities like Paris, with great infrastructure and connecting flights to every destination in the world. Paris is also a very international city where you can find highly qualified employees.
In addition, you must remember that most of the world's top 500 companies have their regional headquarters in France. We're a global player in our industry and we have to stay in close touch with the other players. The fact that they all have their own regional headquarters in France, and particularly in Paris, makes it easier for us to develop our business in the region.
How do you rate French research?
Innovation is a big part of our business. We work in a field where you've got to offer your customers a new application every day. All those applications have to satisfy customers' needs, which means they have to be developed locally. So doing R&D in Europe ? and more specifically in France ? is a logical consequence of our operations.
People in France are very innovative. They love innovation. They like having new ideas. France is a country that sets the trends for the rest of the world. So it's an ideal place to do R&D and it has contributed a lot to our business. We've launched a lot of new terminals from France.
What do you think of French workers?
They are usually highly qualified and very experienced. They are very easy to manage. And they are autonomous: once they understand their environment and the way the company works, they contribute value in quite an independent way.
What are France's advantages as a market?
It's the second-biggest country in Europe in terms of population, which makes it the second-biggest market in the region for our business. And because of France's history, French companies have a lot of subsidiaries in other countries, particularly in francophone Africa. That gives another dimension to the French market and makes France much more important than other European countries. Because of France's relationships with other countries, being present on the French market is a way of accessing other markets, like Switzerland, Belgium and the north African countries.
Is France an attractive place to invest?
That's not the right way of putting it. In Europe, you really don't have much choice. Paris is a place you simply have to be. And there are other cities in France too. We chose Poitiers as the location for our skills center. The university of Poitiers has established strong relationships with universities in China and now produces Chinese-speaking graduates who form a pool of potential employees. The local government there has done an incredible amount to help us settle in. Whenever we've had a problem, they've found the solution. The French authorities really do everything they can to make sure your investment is a success.
Robert Lu
President, China National Bluestar
What convinced a chemicals company like BlueStar to invest in France?
The importance that the country attaches to research. France is a place that takes research seriously. First of all, the education system there is excellent: you only have to look at the number of scientists it produces. Secondly, it's a place where the government actively encourages R&D. When you have all that, anything's possible.
Adisseo, our French subsidiary, makes a food additive that's very useful in animal farming. They started out small, developed a unique technology, improved it year after year and grew their business in an intelligent way. Today, they have the biggest production facility for their product in the world. That's what can happen when you believe in innovation.
Have you received much support from the French authorities?
One month after we acquired our French subsidiary, we were approached by the Invest in France Agency. They put us in touch with lawyers and consultants and said, ?If you need any kind of help, just let us know?. We're in contact with them all the time. Whenever there are new policies, new incentive plans, new subsidies available, they tell us about them. They've been incredibly helpful.
Another example is whenever the French Embassy in Beijing hosts a big event, they invite us. They treat us just like a French company. That has helped us to make contact with other French companies and government agencies. Those contacts have led to a lot of promising business partnerships, including a long-term procurement contract between BlueStar and French chemicals companies.
What else made you choose France?
The quality of France's infrastructure. It's very impressive. You only have to look at what a sophisticated subway system they have in Paris. And travelling between Paris and other French cities is just as easy. We have headquarters in Paris and Lyon: thanks to the TGV high-speed train, I can get from one to the other in two hours, door to door. When you factor in worldwide connections from French airports, Paris has to be one of the most convenient locations in the world.
How do you rate your French employees?
They're very creative and they insist on doing things the right way. I like that. In China, you can just tell your workers to do something. In France, you need to explain why we're doing it. And once they understand why we're doing it, once they agree with the underlying logic, they're incredibly productive. It's all about finding ways to maximize communication within the company.
In fact, working with the French has encouraged us to rethink our own management processes. French corporate management is at the forefront of international best practice. We've learned a lot from their experience. It has definitely helped us to upgrade our own management structure.
What do the French bring to the table?
Creativity. People often ask me why I like France so much. It's because every time I go there, I understand the creative side of the French a little better. From the 18th century right up to the present day, France has produced so many influential philosophers, novelists and scientists.
When I was younger, I read a lot of Flaubert, Maupassant and Dumas. Reading those novels really made me want to get to know France. And when I finally went there, I realized that France isn't just a very beautiful country, it's also full of incredibly innovative people. The French are always thinking about how they can improve an existing product, or how they can create and develop a new one. They've got innovation in their DNA.
So you're a Francophile?
I love France. And not just because the food is fantastic. When you go to Paris, you can feel the history on every street corner. There aren't many countries that have contributed so much to human civilization. That's the creativity of the French people again. The rest of the world has a lot to thank them for.
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