French president Nicolas Sarkozy said today the country would raise €35 billion to fund strategic investments in the coming months, with the priority given to higher education and training.
Mr Sarkozy told a news conference that a further €25 billion would come from the private sector to spend on an array of projects aimed at boosting France's economic competitiveness in the wake of the global slowdown.
The so-called "big loan" has been under discussion for months and the government has already put aside more than €10 billion for the programme, leaving an estimated €22 billion to be raised on the financial markets.
Reuters