a “record” amount of at least 15 billion euros of foreign investment for 56 projects

The annual Choose France forum, the 7th edition of which is being held in Versailles, is organized by the executive to promote France’s attractiveness for foreign investments.

“France, European champion of attractiveness”: this is the message put forward by the French government, as the “Choose France” summit opens on Monday May 13, chaired by Emmanuel Macron in Versailles and which brings together foreign business leaders, around 180 bosses are expected this year . For this 7th edition, the amount of investments is record: 15 billion euros for 56 projects.

These investments are located in several major areas: new technologies, decarbonization and even health. What pushes the Elysée to talk about “very good success” This year. The opportunity to praise the merits of our territory but above all the measures taken in recent years, particularly in the context of simplification for businesses.

Microsoft and its “largest investment ever made in France”

For example, Amazon hesitated between several countries, but ultimately chose France, for these reasons, says Emmanuel Macron’s entourage. The American giant will invest more than 1.2 billion euros, with 3,000 jobs at stake, first to strengthen its logistics network for parcel distribution but also to create data centers for artificial intelligence. Other projects will be announced in this area, with the creation by Accenture of two research centers on conversational robots, such as ChatGPT for example. Finally, IBM will focus on quantum computing in Saclay.

Another major investment, that announced by Microsoft: 4 billion euros to develop data centers in France. “This is the most important investment ever made in France by Microsoft“, assures Brad Smith, the boss of the group at Figaro. These investments, which will be “serving artificial intelligence and the country’s economic growth“, aim to expand the two existing sites in the Paris and Marseille regions, as well as the opening of a third site”new generation“, in the Mulhouse region. These buildings contain the computer servers which enable the operation of artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, which are very energy-intensive. The CEO of Microsoft welcomes French support “nuclear, solar and wind power” Who “makes it possible to provide more carbon-free energy, which helps attract this type of investment“.

Decarbonization projects confirmed

In the field of health, the American Pfizer must also make important announcements. The pharmaceutical giant is becoming a regular at “Choose France”, since this is the third time that the pharmaceutical company has launched projects during this event. This year, 500 million euros will be used to advance the treatment of cancers and sickle cell anemia, a hereditary genetic disease.

AstraZeneca, another major pharmaceutical laboratory, also announced an investment of 365 million euros to decarbonize its aerosol production lines in Dunkirk, dedicated to the treatment of asthma. Still in this health sector, the British GSK and the Swiss Novartis will also make announcements. In this field the number of jobs is not necessarily very high, but they are highly qualified positions.

At “Choose France”, projects around decarbonization will finally be confirmed with an investment in the field of electric batteries. By 2027, KL1 will create a nickel refining plant, which is used to manufacture cathodes, in Blanquefort, near Bordeaux, with 200 jobs promised and 300 million euros put on the table. The Lilium company promises an aeronautical factory to assemble an electric plane. Finally, several banks are setting up activities in France: the American Morgan Stanley, but also more modest establishments in the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.