Macron’s Efforts for French Tech a “Double-Edged Sword”

French president Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to nurture the country’s tech sector are reportedly being met with mixed and even negative reactions from domestic tech firms that are being adversely affected by the influx of business from global tech giants.

Computer expert Randi Hindi said that big names such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Samsung make it difficult for his company to land deals with big local companies. A number of French entrepreneurs also criticized Macron for overlooking local talent when he invited foreign CEOs including Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella at the Tech for Good Summit last month.

Macron’s appointed AI specialist Cedric Villani remarked that while the foreign tech giants are investing as allies, they also capture local resources, making them competitors.

Source: Reuters