Choose France 2026 Summit Drives Record €93 Billion in Foreign Investments Focused on AI and Industrial Growth

The ninth edition of the Choose France summit, held in Versailles, showcased an unprecedented wave of foreign investment with a total of €93 billion announced in 71 international projects. These investments are set to generate over 15,600 jobs across France, emphasizing strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, IT infrastructure, and industrial modernization despite global economic uncertainties.

A significant portion of the investments targets the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, securing seven confirmed projects worth nearly €1 billion. Among the major initiatives, Italy's MARCEGAGLIA will invest €600 million to develop a new generation steel plant in Fos-sur-Mer, leveraging decarbonized electricity and AI technologies to boost industrial capacity. American company ECOLAB plans to invest €100 million in low-carbon iron production and solar panel manufacturing, with the GravitHy site set to produce 2 million tons of green iron annually by 2030.

In addition, Spanish firm BOLUDA is set to invest over €250 million to modernize French ports, while Australia's EOS is contributing more than €10 million to establish an anti-drone systems hub in Nice, expected to create approximately 150 jobs. US-based WORKDAY announced a €200 million investment plan to expand its HR software operations in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, complementing Germany's SARTORIUS €50 million investment focusing on biopharmaceutical innovation.

Artificial intelligence remains a core focus at the summit, with global giants such as SoftBank, Salesforce, and Brookfield prioritizing AI-centered investments. Notably, Marseille’s AI cloud provider SESTERCE will collaborate with Japan’s SoftBank Group to develop a 1-gigawatt data center, epitomizing the massive IT infrastructure projects driving much of the investment.

According to Laure Manent, the summit highlights a strategic push to strengthen France’s technological and industrial landscape through cutting-edge research hubs and sustainable industrial practices. This robust foreign investment inflow marks the Choose France 2026 summit as a landmark event, reinforcing France’s position as a premier destination for advanced AI and industrial projects.