France's economy likely to exceed 1.7 pct forecast in 2018: minister

PARIS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on Monday presented an upbeat view of France's economic performance this year, but stressed that risks at home and abroad may taint the expected positive note.

"In 2017, we laid the foundation for the economic transformation... On this basis, we can confidently start the year 2018," Le Maire said in this year's greeting message.

Struggling to put growth back on the track, France expected to expand growth by about 2 percent for the whole year of 2017. As to this year, the figure likely to be revised up from the initial forecast of 1.7 percent, according to Le Maire.

In his address, the minister also pointed to persistent high jobless claims and mounting nationalism which may cloud the country's outlook.

Currently, unemployment rate in France stands at 9.4 percent. The government targets to lower the figure to 7 percent by 2022 mainly by pouring 15 billion euros (18.4 billion U.S. dollars) over the period to train poor-skilled jobless youth.

"We will also continue to protect the French. I believe in a state that helps the development of our economy, a state that creates a favorable environment for entrepreneurs, a state that protects and defends our national interests," said the minister.

In this context, France is working to improve its attractiveness while protecting its strategic businesses including digital data storage and artificial intelligence, according to the minister.

He added that a decree on the control on foreign flows would be extended to new technology sectors and sanctions would be expanded. Enditem