French President Emmanuel Macron said companies have pledged €93 billion in investments in France at this year’s “Choose France” summit, spanning 71 projects and expected to create more than 15,600 jobs. The announcement was made on Monday during Macron’s annual foreign investment event at Versailles, where about 200 senior executives from around the world were expected to attend. The total includes a major commitment from SoftBank, which said it will invest €45 billion in a project aimed at delivering 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. Macron said that figure could eventually rise to €75 billion. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is due to meet Macron at the Élysée Palace on Monday.
Amazon also announced plans to invest more than €15 billion in France for three new logistics sites, including two delivery stations and a distribution center. The company said the project should create more than 1,000 permanent jobs over three years, in addition to the more than 7,000 jobs Amazon said it had already pledged in early May.
Other investments are expected to be announced at the summit. According to Les Echos, Canadian asset manager Brookfield plans to announce a $10 billion data center project in the Escaudain area of northern France. Investment firm Ardian and Nordic data platform Verne are reportedly set to invest $5 billion in a data center in the Paris region. Taiwanese company Foxconn is also expected to invest €120 million in Angers for an AI-focused motherboard production line in partnership with French supercomputer specialist Bull. The summit may also include announcements related to rare earths.
Macron has used the “Choose France” summit to promote the country as a major destination for foreign investment since 2018. The Élysée says more than 230 projects have been announced since the event began, representing about €87 billion and several thousand jobs. France has attracted the most foreign investment in Europe for seven straight years, according to consultancy EY, although it recorded 852 projects last year, down 17% in a difficult international environment.
Despite the headline announcements, analysts say France’s broader industrial picture remains challenging. Economist Sylvain Bersinger said the new commitments should not hide the fact that corporate investment remains weak and that reindustrialization is still more aspiration than reality. Macron continues to push France’s role in artificial intelligence, backed by €1.55 billion in public investment for quantum technologies and semiconductors.
