Business France (Invest in France)’s Post

On November 13, at the Transatlantic Business Club, co-organized by AmCham France, the US Embassy Paris, and Business France, we celebrated the close ties between France and the United States. We extend our gratitude to Ambassador Denise Campbell Bauer, Minister-Counselor Toby Glucksman, AmCham President Natacha Rafalski, CEO Eglé de Richemont, and our teams.   This event was a chance to highlight the strength of the transatlantic link, rooted in shared values and robust economic relations.   Cross-investment density secures bilateral stability - French FDI in the US stands at $360Bn, making France the 5th largest foreign investor, with 5,200 firms generating €325 Bn in combined revenue and 741,000 direct jobs (INSEE) - US FDI in France totals $139Bn, the US is France’s largest foreign investor in terms of flow   Trade relations continue to grow despite crises - The US is France's top non-EU trade partner, its 4th largest customer - From 2017 to 2023, trade increased by 27% (French Treasury) despite trade disputes and the pandemic   France remains a top destination for US companies - 305 American projects in 2023, making the US the top foreign job creator - During Choose France, 12 American companies announced a total of €6.7Bn in investments, 44% of the €15Bn in total announcements   R&D remains essential to our relationship, with a new AI focus - The US is the leading source of foreign R&D in France, with $2.2 Bn (MESRI-SIES, 2021) - French firms invested $5.1Bn in U.S. R&D in 2021, or 6.5% of the foreign R&D in the US (BEA). - At Choose France in May 2024, Microsoft announced a €4Bn investment in next-gen cloud & AI in France, while in October 2024, OpenAI opened its 1st continental European office in Paris. Sam Altman stated: “France is globally recognized for its innovation and leadership in technology and AI” (Le Monde, Oct. 9, 2024).   President Emmanuel Macron, one of the 1st to congratulate Donald Trump, emphasized “the importance of relying on Europe, and working together with Europe, to address shared challenges.”   Speaking on November 13, alongside Mario Draghi at the Collège de France, he highlighted the "problem squared" of the European model, which underinvests, overregulates, and generates less growth while expanding the welfare State in the context of an aging population.   According to the President, the US elections may accelerate the course of history but do not fundamentally alter the situation as these challenges demand a strong collective European response: protecting internal demand, strengthening the common market in key sectors such as energy and telecoms, and establishing common industrial and innovation policies, all while reaffirming the "value of unity."   France’s attractiveness was showcased with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As we are now passing the Olympic torch to LA 2028, the sports sector, creating €77Bn annually in France & $500Bn in the US, is one of the many paving the way for enhanced cooperation.