Prime Highlight

1. French firms pledged €9.2 billionin new investments at the government-backed “Choose France” summit, boosting confidence in key sectors like energy, healthcare, and agri-food.
2. The government aims to signal that France remains an attractive business destination despite political tensions and budget disputes.

Key Facts

1. Total investment commitments now reach €30.4 billion across 150 projects, combining new pledges with €21.2 billion announced over the past year.
2. France’s economy grew 5% in Q3 2025, outperforming Germany and Italy, supported by strong exports and increased investment.

Background

French companies have pledged €9.2 billion in new investments at the government-backed “Choose France” summit, as officials work to restore business confidence amid ongoing political and fiscal uncertainty. The finance ministry said the commitments come from firms across key sectors such as energy, healthcare and agri-food, marking strong support ahead of the first summit dedicated entirely to domestic companies.

The new pledges add to €21.2 billion announced over the past year, bringing total commitments to €30.4 billion for 150 projects. The government hopes the investment wave will signal that France remains an attractive business location, despite its divided parliament and recurring budget disputes.

President Emmanuel Macron’s pro-business drive has faced repeated setbacks since last year’s snap election led to a hung parliament. Lawmakers have since clashed over tax policy, with opposition parties pushing to roll back earlier reforms. Recent votes in the lower house to raise business taxes in the 2026 budget have triggered strong criticism from corporate leaders.

L’Oréal Chairman Jean-Paul Agon said companies need “real courage” to continue investing in the current environment, noting that success in France often means the ability to handle challenging conditions. Several business groups warn that rising taxes risk harming competitiveness at a time when France must reduce its high public spending.

Finance Minister Roland Lescure sought to ease concerns, saying the government would not rely solely on higher taxes to fix the budget deficit. He stressed that protecting economic growth remains a priority as the final budget text is negotiated.

Even with political tensions, France’s economy grew 0.5% in the third quarter. It did better than Germany and Italy. Strong exports and higher investment helped the economy recover, giving the government some relief as it tries to keep business confidence steady.

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