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France’s rank in the IMD competitiveness index: “France is on the move”

The 2008 World Competitiveness Scoreboard, published by the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, ranks France in 25th place, which is three places higher than in the 2007 report.

(...) The IMD recognizes many of France’s strong points, notably the level of foreign direct investment which puts France in second position worldwide behind the United States and above Great Britain, with an estimated $123.6 billion in 2007 – which is an increase of 52% compared to 2006 – and the country’s infrastructure and labour productivity levels, for which France is ranked third in Europe. (...)

Philippe Favre, President of the IFA, notes: "Over the past year, the emphasis on the value of work, the priority given to research and development, the simplification of chosen economic immigration and a business environment that has become increasingly favorable, have all been placed at the heart of the French government’s economic development strategy and have had a considerable impact on the opinion that foreign companies have of our country."

To read the whole press release, please download the following PDF document.

• France’s rank in the IMD competitiveness index: “France is on the move” [pdf - 48 Ko]
• Other languages
  • Le classement de la France par l’IMD : "La France en mouvement" [pdf - 69 Ko]

Electronic and Medical Nanotechnologies: Research tax credit boosts the sector in France

France has focused its attention the past two years on electronic and medical nanotechnologies.

Support for these technologies continues to be a priority for the government, which has put in place the best research tax credit in Europe for the sector’s R&D activities, where 50% of R&D costs can be reimbursed the first year.

Philippe Favre, President of Invest in France Agency, says, “Microelectronics illustrates the continuing striving for innovation: R&D costs represent around 15% of turnover and production line updates to keep abreast with technological developments represent an investment of around 20% of the same turnover.”

To read the whole press release, please download the PDF document below.

• Electronic and Medical Nanotechnologies: Research tax credit boosts the sector in France [pdf - 35 Ko]

Telephony, data transmission, France leads the way with technological developments

France has decisive technological and industrial assets, with key players in the telecom industry.

The already significant presence of foreign players which have chosen France to set up industrial or research facilities (Motorola, Nortel, Hitachi, TI, LG, etc.) demonstrates its attractiveness to the sector. In 2007, for example, Invest in France helped the Chinese company Huawei, one of the world’s largest networking and telecommunications equipment suppliers, set up its R&D centre in France.

Read more: download the whole press release below.

• Telephony, data transmission, France leads the way with technological developments [pdf - 54 Ko]

France, the most competitive for business start-up costs among the largest European countries

The guide for location of companies that KPMG has published: “Competitive alternatives 2008”, measures the competitiveness of 100 cities in ten countries in Europe, North America and NAFTA countries. It places France at the forefront for competitive business costs.

“This very detailed and serious study, based on concrete projects, shows that France is very competitive with regard to business start-up costs in relation to our big neighbours. Paris, which is an attractive location for headquarter, remains highly ranked for costs that are clearly less than those of Frankfurt or London”, emphasizes Philippe Favre, President of AFII.

• France, the most competitive for business start-up costs among the largest European countries [pdf - 52 Ko]
• Other languages
  • La France, en tête des grands pays européens pour les coûts d’implantation des entreprises [pdf - 104 Ko]
  • フランス、国別事業コスト比較で欧州1位に [pdf - 141 Ko]

Cost of living and setup costs: Paris, more competitive than London

The latest UBS study on “prices and earnings” published in March, compares prices and earnings in 71 major cities around the world.

This scoreboard of major cities ranks Paris among the most competitive European metropolitan areas. Living and setting up a business in Paris is indeed less expensive than in Oslo, Copenhagen and, above all, Dublin and London which are ranked among the most expensive cities in the world.

"The UBS study confirms the competitive advantage of Paris that is now widely acknowledged. Today, Paris is clearly less expensive for companies than London," stated Philippe Favre, President of the Invest in France Agency.

• France: A low-cost, diversified and high quality real estate offering [pdf - 1 Mo]
• Other languages
  • La France : une offre variée, à bas coût pour un immobilier d’entreprise de qualité [pdf - 1 Mo]
• Cost of living and setup costs: Paris, more competitive than London [pdf - 44 Ko]
• Other languages
  • Paris wettbewerbsfähiger als London [doc - 31 Ko]
  • Coût d’implantation et coût de la vie : Paris, plus compétitif que Londres [pdf - 95 Ko]
  • 企業設立費用や物価、パリはロンドンより優位に [pdf - 143 Ko]