Make France “a great producing nation.” Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance, has reason to rejoice: with 15 billion in investments announced for the seventh edition of the Choose France summit, France remains very attractive for foreign investors. A necessity for the Bercy tenant, especially in the context of a Chinese offensive in the industrial sector.
Among the levers that must be activated to reindustrialize and maintain French production is energy, presented as a “comparative asset.” “Nuclear energy is a decisive asset. Having low-cost, carbon-free energy is decisive. […] “This will make a big difference in the future, because it is a big comparative advantage.”
Two examples of French energy attractiveness: the four billion check signed by Microsoft to install data centers in France and the Arcelormittal electric blast furnace, the first of its kind in the world, located in the north, in Dunkirk.
Stable fiscal policy
Bercy is also pleased to maintain a stable, voluntarily supply-oriented policy. “Foreign bankers say this is the place to invest because we have not changed our economic policy for seven years. We will maintain this economic policy for the next few years. They need visibility, and we offer it to them.”
The research tax credit (CIR), granted to large companies to finance their research and development, is also confirmed, as well as the single flat-rate rate, which flattens and simplifies taxation on capital.
At the European level, it also reaffirms the need to unite the capital markets, a few weeks after the presentation of the Noyer and Letta reports on the matter. Above all to retain young people, normally pushed into the arms of Wall Street or American private funds. “We want companies to develop, for startups like Mistral to emerge. Either they can raise capital or we don’t give them the opportunity, in which case they will go to Wall Street.”
Regarding the hot topics of the French business world, Bruno Le Maire also backed his support for artificial intelligence, defending France’s “leading” role in this field. He also ruled out an acquisition of Biogaran by an Indian company “without strict guarantees”, as rumors circulated about expressions of interest.
Source: BFM TV
