Over the past decade, France has been the world’s biggest outward investor. No wonder its government, and its regions, are so keen to attract inward investment.

As French companies have expanded internationally to take advantage of the European single market and set up in emerging economies, France has suffered a net investment outflow of $391bn (€275bn), according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The outflow of funds from French investors, at $872bn, was approaching twice the $481bn inflow.