France announced a record €93 billion ($108 billion) in foreign investment commitments at the 2026 Choose France summit, with roughly half of the pledged capital tied to a major SoftBank-backed artificial intelligence infrastructure project, according to Reuters. The investments span 71 projects and are expected to create more than 15,600 jobs across the country.
The largest commitment comes from SoftBank, which plans to invest €45 billion to build three AI-focused data centers in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. According to SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son, the investment could ultimately grow to as much as €75 billion as the company expands its AI infrastructure footprint in Europe.
The three facilities are expected to deliver a combined capacity of 3.1 gigawatts and form a cornerstone of France’s efforts to become a leading European hub for artificial intelligence. The project is part of SoftBank’s broader global AI infrastructure strategy, which includes significant investments in OpenAI and participation in the $500 billion Stargate data center initiative in the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the record investment figures as evidence of the country’s growing appeal to international investors. Annual investment commitments at the Choose France summit more than doubled from €40.8 billion in 2025, exceeding the cumulative total announced across all summits from 2018 through 2025.
A key factor behind France’s attractiveness is its extensive nuclear power infrastructure. With 57 nuclear reactors and a growing electricity surplus, the country is positioning itself as an ideal location for energy-intensive AI computing facilities and large-scale data centers.
SoftBank’s commitment follows discussions between Macron and Son during the French president’s state visit to Tokyo in April. The investment is intended to strengthen Europe’s AI computing capacity and help the region compete more effectively with the United States and China in the race to build advanced AI infrastructure.
Since launching the Choose France initiative in 2018, Macron has used the annual gathering to attract multinational corporations, investors, and technology leaders. The event has now generated investment announcements totaling approximately €180 billion across hundreds of projects.
