France’s image: weakened but still attractive Even if 48% of investors believe their Choose France headquarters have a good or excellent image of France, this figure is down for the first time Pro-business reforms since 2015, and at its lowest level since 2017. Last year, nearly 65% of investors had a good promised by President image of France. The economic situation alone Macron is not enough to explain this decline: it is the historical weaknesses and France’s persistent “old demons” that investors are pointing at: a difficult labor climate, excessive costs and The CChoose France summit has administrative redtape. been postponed to a later date this year before the summer. But Emmanuel Macron still spoke In your opinion, how do your headquarters with about a hundred foreign view France in comparison to other executives at the end of January. destinations in terms of investment? 13% 9% 6% 25% 15% Perception 33% 27% President Macron has promised 30% to continue the reduction of 36% corporate tax, which will be France and its regions as seen by American investors 39% 37% reduced to 25% next year. 43% 49% 100 billion euros 55% It is the amount of the recovery 50% plan detailed by the President, 42% promising companies to “prepare 44% France for the next decade”. 25% 16% 9% 2% 5% 6% 6% 4% 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Positive 18% 30% 48% 55% 64% 48% perception Excellent Good Average Bad st st 12 21 edition AmCham-Bain Barometer 21 edition AmCham-Bain Barometer 13