- France: With 664 investments projects recorded, last year France received more foreign investment than in 2004 (+12.4%), according to the French Agency for International Investments. These projects only created or maintained 33,247 jobs, merely 49 more than in 2004. The Americans were the biggest investors (29%), followed by the Germans (20%) and the British (8.6%). France, however, is less attractive than it once was for foreign investors: according to a study by the Institute for Management Development, it dropped from 30th to the 35th on the list of the world's most attractive countries for investment. On this list, the United States is first, closely followed by Hong Kong, then Singapore, Iceland and Denmark. Compared with the previous classification, China has made great progress, jumping from 31st to 19th position. India too has made a great leap, from 39th to 29th position.