PARIS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- France secured a record 93 billion euros (108 billion U.S. dollars) in investment pledges at the ninth Choose France business summit on Monday, with the projects expected to create 15,600 jobs, the French presidency said.
President Emmanuel Macron hailed the outcome as "by far a record-breaking event," noting that this year's commitments surpassed the combined 87 billion euros (101 billion U.S. dollars) pledged during the previous eight editions of the summit.
Held at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, the annual event brought together more than 200 business leaders from nearly 50 countries and focused on investment in energy sovereignty and digital transformation.
A total of 71 investment projects were announced, primarily in artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare and pharmaceuticals, energy transition, and industrial decarbonisation, according to the Elysee Palace.
AI infrastructure accounted for a significant share of the investment commitments. Japan's SoftBank Group announced plans to invest up to 75 billion euros (87 billion U.S. dollars) to develop and operate 5 gigawatts of AI-dedicated data centre capacity in France. Investors from Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and the United States also unveiled plans to expand AI-related infrastructure projects in the country.
Beyond the technology sector, U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon said it would build three new logistics sites in France. Italian steelmaker Marcegaglia announced an additional 600 million-euro (698 million-U.S.-dollar) investment to construct a next-generation steel plant powered by AI and decarbonised electricity.
The healthcare and pharmaceutical sector is expected to attract around 600 million euros (698 million U.S. dollars) in new investment, largely aimed at expanding and modernising existing production facilities.
Launched by Macron in 2018, the Choose France summit is designed to attract foreign investment and promote the country's industrial and technological development. Since its inception, the event has generated more than 230 investment decisions and helped create about 50,000 industrial jobs, according to the French presidency.
