Italians prefer Paris, but also the French Riviera. The three regions of France that attract more investments from Italy are in fact Ile-de-France (region of the capital that hosts 1 out of 3 projects), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (15%) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d ‘ Azur (8%). But, beyond the territorial division, the link between the two countries is very close and this is confirmed by the fact that France is confirmed as the main destination country for Italian investments in Europe, with 44% of the total. Followed by Great Britain (with 11%) and Germany (with 10%).
Record year for investments in France
The data emerge from the “2021 balance sheet of international investments in France”, created and published by Business France (the national agency for the internationalization of the French economy). The annual report also highlights that in 2021 foreign companies in general (not only Italian ones, therefore) launched 1,607 new investment projects in France, with an increase of 32% compared to 2020. These projects have made it possible to create or maintain 45,008 jobs in the area (+ 30% compared to 2020). The level reached is historic: France has never been so attractive, with an average of 31 investment decisions per week.
Almost one hundred new tricolor projects
Returning to Italy, in 2021 there are almost 100 new projects launched across the Alps. These – 96 in all – made it possible to create or keep 1,830 jobs, with a number of jobs in strong growth (+ 61%) compared to the previous year. In addition, new settlements account for 47%, as do existing business expansion projects. The acquisitions of French companies, on the other hand, represent 6% of the projects (the acquisitions of companies in difficulty by Italian companies have doubled, increasing the loans thus safeguarded in France by 34%).
Industry and Research & Development at the top
Industrial investments, in Research & Development and Innovation represent approximately 45% of Italian investments. Italian companies have invested mainly in the creation and / or strengthening of industrial activities (29% of projects), in other activities related to the company headquarters (28%) and in R&D, Engineering and Design (16%). Italian investors are in fact at the origin of 10% of the total R&D projects started in France by foreign companies.
As regards the sectoral breakdown of Italian investments, in 2021 investments were made mainly in hotel and restaurant tourism (16%), automotive (15%), building and construction (15%), glass, ceramics, wood and paper processing (13%) and home furnishings (13%). Among the individual cases cited in the report, that of Prysmian stands out, with an investment of 40 million euros.