Worrying signsBut the situation is fragile

So far, so good. The France remains attractive. According to the annual barometer published by Ernst & Young the opening tonight at La Baule (Loire-Atlantique), the eighth edition of the World Investment Conference, France upheld last year, his rank of second Earth to welcome foreign investment in Europe, behind Britain. And, rather beautiful way: while the number of settlements of sites projects collapsed 11 in all of Europe and 7 in Western Europe, those allowed in France grew slightly ( 1, with 529 announced projects). In the end, they helped create 13.298 jobs in the Hexagon, or 2 more than in 2008, while the number of new posts is folded 16 across the Continent. Resistance to the industrial sector, with a 24 jump new settlements that place first in the European France and compensates for the lower tertiary and software. "The France has confirmed its role as a safe haven in times of crisis, said Marc Lhermitte, partner at Ernst & Young." During periods of heavy weather, investors always give a premium to the leaders.

Worrying signs

But the situation is fragile. First because the Germany continues, year after year, snack market share. Foreign investment projects there grew last year by 7, giving a market share of 13 in Europe, scope of the France (16). From 2005, international settlements jumped 130 German, when they fell by 2 in France...

Another worrisome sign is the ability to attract investors from emerging countries. "These future champions of global growth are clearly more marked interest for competing European countries of the France", said the firm. In 2009, the France counted 20 projects of investment from the BRICs, three times less than in Germany and the United Kingdom. When the Germany hosts 41 of Chinese projects in Europe and the 54 of Indian investment United Kingdom, the France did respectively received 9 and 11. "The role of financial capital of London or the cultural proximity to Indian companies, as well as the German industrial prospects may partly justify such attractiveness gap", says the study. At a time when Asian groups out of their border, "it is essential that the France can attract these businesses so that they do not produce its European neighbors of the goods and services to the French market".

Will the France be a value of growth at the time of the recovery The question is raised by Ernst & Young. While three-quarters of 208 interviewed leaders maintain their confidence in its ability to overcome the crisis. But they are 45 to estimate that its attractiveness will get better within three to five years against 54 for the Germany and 56 for the United Kingdom. In addition, they are 39 to quote the Germany as main competitor of the France while, conversely, the France tomb of the first to fourth place main competitors of the Germany. For the Germany and the United Kingdom, investors widely believe that the United States is the main competitor. "The image that they draw place these two economies in a global class while the France would remain blocked in a European competition", point Ernst & Young.