Choose France Summit 2026 Sees Record €93 Billion in Foreign Investment Commitments

On June 1, 2026, the ninth edition of the Choose France Summit at the Château de Versailles announced an unprecedented €93 billion in foreign investment commitments, marking a historic record that surpasses the combined €87 billion of the previous eight editions. This surge in capital is expected to create over 15,000 new jobs across France, reinforcing the country's strategic position as a leading hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and data center infrastructure in Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron underscored the 2026 summit's significance in solidifying France's industrial independence, particularly in semiconductors, critical minerals, AI, and robotics. Highlighting major investor commitments, Japanese tech giant SoftBank pledged €45 billion toward a massive data center project slated for completion by 2031. Canadian asset manager Brookfield announced an additional €10 billion focused on AI infrastructure, elevating their total investments to €30 billion. Other noteworthy contributors include the Emirati fund MGX and Bpifrance, which plan to invest €7.5 billion for a second AI site, along with participation from Ardian and Salesforce.

Since 2018, Choose France has facilitated over 230 projects totaling nearly €87 billion and created 50,000 industrial jobs, establishing itself as a key annual event attracting more than 200 foreign business leaders. Despite global economic challenges, France remains Europe's most attractive investment destination for the seventh consecutive year, a status credited to the government's proactive economic policies that include attractive taxation, regulatory simplifications, and an emphasis on decarbonized energy production.

This year's summit reinforced the role of foreign direct investment in driving France's technological and industrial sovereignty and showcased the country’s ambition to lead Europe in digital and AI advancements. President Macron encouraged continued international collaboration to bolster France’s industrial resilience and future competitiveness.