Norwegian investors approve the ongoing reforms in France

At the occasion of the French-Norwegian Day 2018 organized around the theme of artificial intelligence (AI), Norwegian investors shared their positive opinion of the ongoing reforms in France. This all event was organized by the French-Norwegian chamber of commerce, with the support of Business France and the French embassy in Norway.

Norwegian investors show interest in the Big Investment Plan 2018-2022

Norwegian companies have shown great interest in the Big Investment Plan 2018-2022, a €57 billion project to accelerate the ecological transition, improve professional training, support competitiveness through innovation, as well as create the digital state. The French Government is tackling these four major challenges through structural reforms which will note increase public deficit as they are to be financed through loans, equity or guarantee funds (€11 billion), the redirecting or activation of existing investments (€12 billion), and new fiscal measures (€24 billion).

A renewed interest for France thanks to the reforms launched by President Macron

As President Macron stated at the business forum held in Denmark this August: « We passed laws on taxes, flexisecurity, vocational training. It’s done. Now we need economic and social players to use this new framework. »

Norwegian investors gave their approval of the ongoing reforms in France, and they believe that changes can already be observed in the quality of the social dialogue.

France is at the edge of research in the field of AI

President Macron had entrusted Cédric Villani (Laureate of the Fields Medal in 2010) with the mission of designing the basis of the French strategy in this disruptive field of research. At the occasion of the “AI for Humanity” conference at the Collège de France, President Macron emphasized four priorities:

• enhancing the AI ecosystem,
• developing an open data policy,
• building a regulatory and financial framework fostering the emergence of « AI champions »,
• reflecting upon AI regulation and ethics.

France is already at the edge of innovation in the field of AI, with leading competitiveness clusters and 271 startups working within this field, recorded by the end of March 2018.