What is the relation in between the Invest in Western France agency, Eurogate and the LA BAULE-WIC events ?
The Invest in Western France agency is the official agency for the development of the region of Pays de La Loire and Poitou-Charentes.
EuroGate is a service operated by the Invest in Western France agency. It helps companies to reach the right partner and develop in Europe through its networks. More info
The LA BAULE-WIC (WORLD INVESTMENT CONFERENCE) is an annual conference about attractiveness and competitiveness in Europe and takes place in LA BAULE (Western France). The Invest in Western France agency is co-founder of the event and supports the LA BAULE-WIC conference. More info
How do I know which sites are available and suitable for my development project ?
Once we work with you on the full description of your project (specifications, requirements), Ouest Atlantique gathers -through our local partners- all the information about the available and suitable sites or buildings.
We hand out to you a complete file about the sites available. The file can comprise 1 up to 10 to 20 sites, (depending on your requirements) and makes it easy for you to benchmark and study which location is best for you.
Once you select your shortlist, we organize and accompany you to visit the sites/buildings. The visits help you convert your decision efficiently.
Read more about our services
How can I keep my investment project as confidential as possible ?
=> Ouest Atlantique services are fully confidential and pre-paid by the regions we cover.
Very often, investors who plan to invest in Western Europe don't want their competitors and the press to know about it at that stage. Therefore, if you wish to remain anonymous, we guarantee you full confidentiality from the very early stages up to the visit of the sites.
You will be able to study and benchmark the sites you wish to set up in in full confidentiality.
How can my company obtain financial assistance ?
Financial assistance takes a variety of forms related to the unique characteristics of your business and in some cases the location in which you wish to set up within Western France.
Some forms of assistance include: direct cash grants indexed to the number of jobs created; business loans for period of time; and tax credit.
We work with you on defining the best incentives programme. Our assistance spreads out throughout your setting up process and continues onwards for your future extensions or transfers.
Why is the corporate tax high in France?
The corporate tax rate (33.33 %) seems high at first glance. Yet, the amount of corporate tax paid in France ends up being comparable to other developed countries because of the way taxes are calculated in France:
. Accelerated amortization of production equipment is the usual practice,
. Depreciation of different accounts can be deducted,
. All expenses connected to the business are deductible expenses.
How will I cope with all the taxes in France ?
The French tax environment has been improved in order to encourage innovation.
The favourable tax rates which were formally applied to corporate head offices have now been extended to Research & Development centres, and patent licence rates have been reduced from 19% to 15%. A range of tax relief measures have been put in place to favour new innovative companies.
The reform of the French "Taxe Professionnelle" (Business Tax) has resulted in it being capped at 3.5% of added value. Furthermore, the temporary tax relief system applied to new fixed assets which are subject to depreciation has been made permanent.
The taxation of capital gains on the sale of equity securities was phased out as from the financial year beginning 2007.
Corporate legal security has been improved thanks to the now generalised application of the French "rescrit" advance ruling procedures for all tax withholdings, as well as the creation of "rescrit" advance ruling procedures for social security contributions.
=> Over the last years the French government has gradually been making legal and fiscal reforms to make France more business-friendly: Why not benefiting nowfrom these attractive measures ?
What is the TVA (VAT) ?
Value-Added Tax, denoted as TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée) on French invoices and receipts, applies to most products and services at a rate of 19.6%, although some exceptions do apply. VAT is a cost that is transmitted through the value-adding processes, exchanges, and transactions, thus the final customer bears the actual cost. Temporary negative cash flow impacts and time value of money costs are the only effect of VAT upon a company.
Where do I find up-to-date information in good English about properties, holidays and life in France ?
If you are looking for good information in English about properties, holidays and life in France, you should not miss the www.frenchentree.com website. This site is updated by British people living and working in France and covers all areas of everyday life (housing, health, education, holidays...)
You can find specific information about Pays de la Loire and Poitou-Charentes regions in the region section.
Which administrative procedures for the incoming executive management personnel and their families ?
Administrative procedures for incoming executive management personnel and their families are made simple with the help of the French National Agency for Foreign and Migratory Workers -ANAEM (Agence Nationale d'Accueil des Etrangers et des Migrations).
The ANAEM is a one-stop remote service specifically designed to deal with foreign tax-payer enquiries, and provides telephone contact, orientation and advice for those relocating to France. It deals with work permits and provides expert advice on tax issue.
Which taxation for international management staff ?
The taxation of international management staff is proportionate to the time actually spent working in France, as it is the case in the United Kingdom (remittance basis).
Their expatriate premiums are exempt from income tax for 5 years providing that they have not been resident in France for tax purposes during the course of the 5 previous years.
Moreover, social security payments made in their home country are now tax deductible, providing the home country has entered into a social security agreement with France. Any stock-options which have been acquired before their entry into France benefit from a system to avoid double taxation.
Are French workers as reliable and productive as ours ?
Accorging to European commission, France is a world leader in hourly productivity per worker, ahead of the US. There is in the country a high level of education.
Western France is said to host reliable workers with a good labor stability compared to other regions in France. It shows a low number of disputes, particularly in the private sector.
Employing French workers will make you benefit from a great flexibility in organizing work time. This is typically appreciated in companies that have to face seasonal and/or cyclical fluctuations in their business.
How do I cope with the French health system ?
The French health system is one of the best in the world. To get all the information, in good English, about how it works and how to register, surf on the www.frenchentree.com website. This site is updated by British people living and working in France and covers all areas of everyday life (housing, health, education, holidays...)
You can also find specific information about Pays de la Loire and Poitou-Charentes regions in the region section.
What's the difference between Ouest Atlantique, Western France, and the Invest in Western France agency ?
The Invest in Western France agency is the official name.
Ouest Atlantique is the French name of the agency.
Western France is the name of the area we cover : i.e. the 2 regions of Western France named Pays de La Loire and Poitou-Charentes.
What is the relation in between the Invest in Western France agency, Eurogate and the LA BAULE-WIC events ? 