Atlantic shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, in June 2019. – SEBASTIEN SALOM GOMIS / SIPA
“Health, transport, banking, food, telecoms, digital … There are announcements on all territories, in all sectors and for all types of jobs”, welcomed the Presidency of the Republic. Nearly 4 billion euros from major foreign groups will be invested in France, the Elysée Palace announced on Sunday evening, ahead of the 3rd “Choose France” summit intended to show that France is still attracting people, despite social movements.
Among these announcements, the most important comes from the Italian-Swiss shipowner MSC, which placed an order for 2 billion euros at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in
Saint-Nazaire for two new liners, available in 2025 and 2027 and powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). This firm order is accompanied by the signing of two memoranda of understanding between MSC and the shipyards, potentially involving 4 billion euros in additional investments, the executive said.
200 patrons invited to the Palace of Versailles
Emmanuel Macron invited Monday, during the 3rd edition of the “Choose France” summit, nearly 200 French and foreign bosses to the Palace of Versailles, on the eve of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. As in 2018, France remains the second destination for foreign investors in Europe behind Germany and ahead of the United Kingdom. Between 2017 and 2019, its attractiveness increased from 22nd to 15th in the ranking published by the WEF, “the best progression in the top 20”, according to the Elysée Palace. According to Matignon, foreign direct investment in French companies grew by more than 5 billion euros in 2018 (an increase of 20%) “and the year 2019 promises to break new records”.
Several trade union organizations – CGT, FO, FSU and Solidaires des Yvelines – have already announced that they will take the opportunity to demonstrate on site, on the 47th day of strike against the pension reform, in order to demand the withdrawal of the project.
MSC, Coca-Cola and AstraZeneca
The construction in Saint-Nazaire of two new ocean liners of 6,700 passengers each will generate “14 million hours of work, corresponding to 2,400 jobs over three and a half years,” the executive said. The agreement also provides for the development of a new class of LNG liners as well as that of a new prototype of boats propelled partly under sail, effectively integrating the “best environmental innovations”, the cruise sector. being regularly accused of polluting enormously.
Among the other announcements within the framework of “Choose France” is the decision of Coca-Cola and its bottler to invest one billion euros over five years in France, half of which to strengthen its production and distribution network, and the other to “support the development of its current brands and introduce new products to the French market”.
In addition, the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has announced an investment of more than 450 million euros (500 million dollars) over five years in France, including more than 200 million euros for its Dunkirk site where Mr. Macron is expected. on Monday. The Anglo-Swedish group, which employs around 1,000 people in France, will in particular continue to develop its Dunkirk site, which specializes in the production of aerosol products for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, underlines. it Sunday in a statement. About 100 jobs will be created “to support this increase in power,” said AstraZeneca.
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