Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is the 5th most attractive region in France for Foreign Direct Investment
15 May 2023 L'agence, Investissement, Attractivité de la région Share :
At 5th place in the ranking of Foreign Direct Investment, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is performing well and making progress in the national ranking.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté ranks 5th among French regions for FDI
This 5th place was revealed by Business France, the governmental agency for the international development of companies, in the 2022 report on Foreign Direct Investment. Bourgogne-Franche-Comté appears as a resolutely attractive region for Foreign Direct Investment, having climbed one spot from last year, which is remarkable considering the difficult economic context related to the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis reinforcing inflation, which weighed on the cash flow of most companies. The turbulence of the global economy did not impact the number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté or their growth. In 2022, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté attracted 133 foreign investment projects, compared to 117 in 2021, a significant increase of 14% from the previous year. This attractiveness is manifested by the creation or maintenance of 3,193 jobs. The growth in the number of projects and jobs has continued for several years, demonstrating a real interest from foreign investors in our economy.
Other indicators of attractiveness, such as the attractiveness index based on their GDP, show that Bourgogne-Franche-Comté stands out from other regions by recording a share of foreign projects more than 1.6 times higher than its weight in the national GDP. Finally, 800 companies located in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté are subsidiaries of foreign companies. They employ over 75,000 employees in the region.
Germany, the US, and the UK, top investors in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Europe is the largest provider of FDI projects, with 95 projects (71%) compared to 38 projects outside Europe (29%). In first place, Germany with 22% of the projects accommodated for 818 jobs, followed by the USA with 16% of the projects for 1,085 jobs, and then the UK with 11% of the projects for 126 jobs. These three countries represent 49% of the total projects and 64% of the total jobs. The interest of foreign investors in our region is partly explained by its location at the crossroads of major Western European highways.
Foreign investors consolidate their presence in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
More than half of the projects are extensions of existing sites, and more than one in three projects is a new installation. Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is a truly attractive destination for the foreign companies’ development.
Industrial know-how and competitive workforce, vectors of attractiveness in the region
One in two projects is carried out in the production sector and concerns more than 2,000 jobs occupied by a qualified workforce, highly appreciated by foreign investors.
A virtuous regional ecosystem
Marie-Guite DUFAY, President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, highlights the virtuous dynamic of the regional ecosystem: “with 133 projects in 2022, an increase of 14% compared to 2021 (117 projects), Bourgogne-Franche-Comté ranks 5th and once again demonstrates its economic attractiveness to foreign investors. The innovation and ecological transition ecosystems developed in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in strategic sectors, its location at the heart of Europe, and its recognized industrial DNA are assets that make Bourgogne-Franche-Comté a region of choice for investors. This dynamic, reinforced year after year, should enable Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to attract new employees and skills to meet the needs of companies on its territory and to continue its development. The Region and its Regional Economic Agency (AER BFC) are working hard to publicize these assets and offer companies quality support to prepare for their establishment,” rejoices the Regional President.
Jean-Claude LAGRANGE, President of the Regional Economic Agency (AER BFC), concludes: “We are alongside companies and territories to welcome companies, promote their sustainable development on the territory, integrate them into schemes set up by the Region, but also by its partners. This ecosystem, based on the collective, is a powerful lever of attractiveness towards foreign investors.”