((Automated translation by Reuters, please see disclaimer https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))
(Updated with AstraZeneca investment, added details)
Major healthcare companies Pfizer PFE.N and AstraZeneca AZN.L announced new investments in France on Sunday totaling nearly $1 billion, ahead of the start of the annual “Choose France” business summit. of this year.
Pfizer said it would invest 500 million euros ($538.5 million) in France to expand its research and development activities in the country, while AstraZeneca announced an investment of $388 million for its Dunkirk site.
These investment promises were made as President Emmanuel Macron prepares to kick off, on Monday, the annual “Choose France” event, which aims to attract large companies and foreign investors.
Earlier on Sunday, France announced the creation of 100 new jobs in Paris at the bank Morgan Stanley MS.N, as well as investments from other companies such as the German aviation company Lilium LILM.O.
Mr Macron wants to strengthen Paris’s role as Europe’s business capital, although it has traditionally lagged behind New York and London globally.
The closely followed Z/Yen Global Financial Centers Survey, released in March, ranked New York as the top global financial center, with London coming in second. Paris was ranked in 14th position.
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