🇫🇷 France – a land of promise… and investment! 🇫🇷

We’ve always had a soft spot for France. And not just for the food, wine, art, people, scenery or castles – although those are all very good reasons. (Remember our trip to Paris and Val Thorens?) We also love the country’s spirit of creation and innovation – which continues to shine through in the latest annual report from Business France.

The “2024 Annual Report: Foreign Investment in France” was released on 1 April 2025 and confirms what we’ve long believed: France is resilient, open, and still very much a land of opportunity.

Despite a challenging global economic environment, France secured 1,688 foreign direct investment decisions in 2024. These projects will create or maintain 37,747 jobs over the next three years. Even though this represents a slight drop from the previous year, it still outperforms pre-Covid levels – and far exceeds the investment declines seen elsewhere in the world.

What’s more, 28% of investors in 2024 were newcomers to France, including 85% of African and 38% of Asian firms investing in the country for the first time. Two-thirds of these projects were supported by Business France – showing the vital role they continue to play in bringing investors into the fold.

The projects span manufacturing (28%), retail (22%) and decision-making centres (18%). The AI sector is booming, with 43 AI-related investments in 2024 compared to 28 the year before. The number of R&D and engineering roles created also rose by 9%, reinforcing France’s reputation as a global hub for innovation.

And we’ve seen it ourselves. We have a long-standing relationship with Château de Montflour, a beautifully rustic property in the heart of France – Tardes, in the department of Creuse, to be precise. (A few CN&CO team mates will be heading to the château in the near future. Watch this space for a full feedback blog!)

Rural France has its fair share of ruins and restoration challenges, but also a remarkable community of South Africans who are bringing new life to old properties. Many run shops, offer services and spend months each year enjoying – and contributing to – French life.

We’re also involved in a few exciting business initiatives in France, including work with Business France. The resilience and attractiveness of the French economy highlighted in this report only confirm what we already know: this country offers incredible opportunities – for lifestyle, for business, and for building something truly special.

For more on the report and its findings, visit www.businessfrance.fr.