- United States: Foreign companies invested $320.9 billion in the United States in 2000, a record amount up 17% compared to the 275 billion invested the previous year. Most of this sum, US$316.5 billion, was used to acquire American firms. The remaining 4.4 billion were for launching new companies in the United States or extending existing firms. Over 75% of investment was of European origin, with the United Kingdom remaining the largest foreign investor with over one third of total investment, ahead of the Netherlands and Canada. The sectors where most investment was made were the manufacturing sector (especially food processing, the oil industry, information technology and electronics) as well as the professional, scientific and technical services sector. - Canada: France rose to first place among foreign director investors in Canada in 2000 thanks mainly to the acquisition of several large Canadian groups by French companies (SEAGRAM acquired by VIVENDI and NEWBRIDGE by ALCATEL, in particular). Last year, 49% of FDI flow to Canada came from France, it was announced by the French Embassy in Ottawa.