France is hosting a major foreign investment summit on Monday, with tens of billions of dollars in capital commitments expected, particularly in artificial intelligence and data centre infrastructure.
Around 200 top global executives are gathering at the Palace of Versailles, west of Paris, for President Emmanuel Macron’s annual “Choose France” event aimed at attracting foreign investment.
The 2025 edition of the summit follows a record year in which 20 billion euros ($23.3 billion) in projects were announced.
Among the biggest commitments this year, Japanese technology investment giant SoftBank has pledged 75 billion euros for artificial intelligence infrastructure, according to reports.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is also scheduled to meet President Macron at the Élysée Palace during the event.
Canadian asset manager Brookfield is expected to announce a $10 billion investment in a data centre project in Escaudain, northern France, according to business daily Les Echos.
In another major deal, investment firm Ardian and Nordic data platform Verne are set to invest around $5 billion in a data centre located in the Paris region.
Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn is also expected to invest 120 million euros in a production line for AI-focused motherboards in the western city of Angers, in partnership with French supercomputer specialist Bull.
The summit may also feature announcements related to rare earth materials, reflecting Europe’s growing focus on strategic supply chains.
Since its launch in 2018, the “Choose France” initiative has resulted in more than 230 projects worth approximately 87 billion euros, creating thousands of jobs, according to the Élysée Palace.
France has remained the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe for seven consecutive years, according to consultancy EY.
However, Macron has acknowledged that this success requires sustained effort and policy support to maintain momentum.
EY data shows France attracted 852 investment projects last year out of 5,026 across 47 European countries, representing a 17 percent decline amid global economic uncertainty.
While France continues to lead Europe in AI-related investments, some sectors—particularly automotive, chemicals, and metallurgy—have seen weaker performance.
Economist Sylvain Bersinger cautioned that headline investment announcements should not obscure underlying challenges.
He noted that overall corporate investment in France remains subdued and argued that reindustrialisation efforts are still far from fully realised.
President Macron has made artificial intelligence a strategic priority, pledging 1.55 billion euros in public investment to advance quantum technologies and semiconductor development.
The government hopes the latest wave of investments will reinforce France’s position as a European leader in digital innovation and advanced industries.
