The broader trade and investment relationship between France and Ireland continues to deepen.
Nearly three-quarters of Franco-Irish businesses see clear opportunities for growth over the next 12 months, according to a new survey released by the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce (FICC).
The 2025 Business Sentiment Survey, conducted in partnership with Teneo, found that 73% of respondents identified opportunities in Franco-Irish trade and investment. Additionally, 74% of participants expressed confidence in the business environment for the year ahead, with 43% expecting their own business performance to improve in the second half of 2025.
“Our members are also calling for action on long-standing domestic barriers that risk stalling momentum. They need the country to match their ambition. They want more homes, rail lines, and policy certainty to help businesses and employees thrive”
The survey captured views from across FICC’s 170-member base, which includes patrons, multinationals, SMEs, and startups operating in both Ireland and France. Growth is anticipated across key sectors including infrastructure, green energy, digital, technology, and transport.
Infrastructure concerns
However, members also expressed concerns about Ireland’s broader operating environment, particularly around delayed infrastructure delivery, housing shortages, and regulatory complexity. The survey identified three leading business challenges: ongoing talent and skills shortages, rising cost pressures and inflation, and persistent macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.
More than half (56%) of respondents said recent geopolitical or regulatory changes have had a “somewhat negative” impact on their operations, with a further 5% describing the impact as “very negative.”
Rather than crisis-level disruption, respondents point to delays, friction, and increased complexity, especially in cross-border trade, talent mobility, and strategic decision-making.
“Our members see clear opportunity in the Franco-Irish trade and investment relationship over the next 12 months, with sectors like infrastructure, digital, green energy, and transport at the forefront,” said Chris Smyth, President of the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Group CEO of Perennial Freight.
“In a world of geopolitical flux, France and Ireland are increasingly viewed as stable, aligned, and mutually beneficial partners, with EU regulatory alignment, and shared innovation priorities creating fertile ground for deeper collaboration.”
“While global instability from US policy shifts to Middle East tensions remains a concern, our members continue to see strong demand, investment momentum and long-term fundamentals holding steady,” Smyth added. “This survey confirms what we see every day: businesses that are not only adapting but see a positive future and are willing to invest in Ireland’s future.”
Smyth noted that while respondents are not panicked, they face operational challenges. “The tone is one of quiet constraint, firms are adapting, but added cost, complexity, and uncertainty are causing real operational drag. Our members are also calling for action on long-standing domestic barriers that risk stalling momentum. They need the country to match their ambition. They want more homes, rail lines, and policy certainty to help businesses and employees thrive.”
France is Ireland’s largest supplier of goods in the EU
Manon Monot, Country CFO for Schneider Electric in Ireland and FICC member, echoed the sentiment about Ireland’s continued appeal. “While global market conditions remain unpredictable, Ireland continues to offer real opportunity. Our operations here are locally focused and resilient, and we see strong long-term potential for investment, particularly in the energy sector, where the demand for infrastructure renewal is accelerating. At the same time, customers are weighing critical decisions against an uncertain external backdrop, especially in markets like the Americas.”
The broader trade and investment relationship between France and Ireland continues to deepen. More than 300 French companies currently operate subsidiaries across the country, collectively supporting over 30,000 direct jobs, according to the French Embassy in Ireland. Trade between the two countries remains strong, with over €5.4 billion in goods exchanged in the first four months of 2025. France is Ireland’s largest supplier of goods in the EU, as well as the first EU investor in Ireland.
The FICC Business Sentiment Survey was conducted between 12th and 25th June 2025, with responses received from over 40% of members across a range of sectors and company sizes. The survey launch coincides with Bastille Day 2025, as the Chamber marks the strength of the Franco-Irish business relationship and the resilience of its growing community of 170 member organisations.
Main image: Photo by Jossuha Théophile on Unsplash
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