Over the years, it has become a “little Davos”, a must-visit for many big international bosses. For its seventh edition, the Choose France summit will take place on Monday May 13, under the gold of the Palace of Versailles. Chaired by Emmanuel Macron, this event “business pro” launched in 2018 aims to attract foreign investors by promoting the economic and fiscal merits of France.
In 2023, twenty-eight investment projects had been announced, for a total of 13 billion euros, a record since the creation of the forum. Twelve months later, in this Olympic year, the Elysée promises even higher performances, with more than 15 billion investments for 56 new projects.
The high mass of Versailles takes place while France has just been designated for the fifth year in a row the most attractive country in Europe in terms of foreign investments, ahead of the United Kingdom and Germany, according to the cabinet EY auditing. The executive wants to see in these results proof of the merits of its policy business friendly since 2017: reform of the labor code, elimination of the solidarity tax on wealth (excluding real estate), reduction in corporate tax and production taxes, etc.
An environment which, according to the Elysée, is part of the country’s reindustrialization strategy. “France is reindustrializing and remains very innovative because our policy since 2017 has been the same, stable and understandable”we affirm at the Presidency of the Republic.
180 leaders of foreign groups
This speech should not change on Monday, while the government wants to move ever faster in this area: the “green industry” law passed in the fall of 2023 and the new bill on simplification presented in April plan in particular to simplify the legal procedures and reduce administrative delays to find available industrial land and allow the opening of factories or mines.
In addition to around sixty bosses of French companies, some 180 leaders of foreign groups are expected on Monday in Versailles, including 20% North Americans and 20% Asians, according to the Elysée. They will have lunch with Gabriel Attal – a first in seven years for a head of government –, accompanied by numerous ministers and Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market. Emmanuel Macron, for his part, will be present for the dinner given in the Hall of Mirrors. Previously, the Head of State will chair a round table on decarbonization and another on artificial intelligence.
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