The Covid-19 pandemic has not weakened the will of French start-ups, SMEs and mid-cap companies to set up abroad.
According to the fifth edition of the Banque Populaire-Pramex barometer, which scrutinized the projects of 600 clients, the demand from French companies to create subsidiaries abroad or to deploy by acquisition has even increased sharply since last fall.
The United States, for which appetite was lower in 2019 (11.4% of projects), remains the favorite destination.
In 2020, they regain market share with 13.6% of projects.
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Germany (9.2%) maintains its second place in the world and even gains first place among the targeted European countries.
As for the United Kingdom (8.4%), French companies remain pragmatic.
In third place in the world, its attractiveness has not suffered either from the pandemic or from Brexit, which has changed the conditions for the movement of people, goods and services, but not discouraged companies from setting up.
Spain, which has recorded a third fewer projects, and Italy, are ranked third and fourth respectively.
In total, Europe represents 52% of the projects.
In Asia (16%), while Singapore is consolidating its role as a hub, Hong Kong is losing ground, due to its political instability and tax reforms. Africa (7%) remains marginal, with Morocco concentrating more than half of the projects on the continent (3.7%). According to the barometer, opportunities should emerge in Europe in the coming months. Companies weakened by the crisis in Poland and Italy could indeed whet the appetite of French entrepreneurs and startuppers ...