FRANCE’S reputation for protectionism stems from misrepresentations by Anglo-Saxon journalists, the head of a French investment agency told The Times yesterday.

“This country is incredibly open,” said Clara Gaymard, of Invest in France, which seeks to attract investment in the French economy. “Stop saying we’re protectionist.”

She said that French government ministers had travelled around the world calling for foreign investment. “You would have to be blind and deaf not to understand the message,” she said.

She was speaking after the proposed merger between Suez and Gaz de France sparked a fresh attack on Paris. Dominique de Villepin, the Prime Minister, was accused of returning to nationalism to shield French companies from globalisation.

The outcry over rumours of a takeover of Danone by Pepsico last summer and over Mittal Steel’s bid for Arcelor are seen by detractors as proof of his interventionism.

Mme Gaymard said: “Economic patriotism is not the same thing as protectionism.” She said that the French Government was seeking to “cultivate pride” in the country’s companies and to boost the national economy.

“It’s not forbidden to want to be stronger and more powerful and well-armed for the economic war,” she said.

Mme Gaymard said that France’s image had been tarnished by the British and American media. “It’s you Anglo-Saxon journalists who are determined to portray us as protectionist. You are manufacturing this image. We might have been like that 20 years ago, but it’s not true today.”

She said that the Government had privatised $30 billion (£17 billion) of assets last year, more than any other country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. She added that 900 private French companies had been sold to foreign investors for a total of $350 billion over the past five years.

Mme Gaymard, who sits on the board of Gaz de France, defended the proposed merger with Suez: “Gaz de France is too small and we have been looking at different possibilities for a link with different partners for a while — and the one with Suez appears the most pertinent by a long chalk.”

PATRIOT GAMES

February 2006: When Enel, of Italy, announces plans to take over Suez, Paris responds with a proposed merger between Suez and Gaz de France

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