France secures €93 billion to become European AI and data center hub

France secured a record €93 billion ($108 billion) in foreign investment during President Emmanuel Macron's annual "Choose France" conference on May 29, 2026. The investment, surpassing the previous eight years' combined total of €87 billion, will create more than 15,000 jobs. Japanese tech investor SoftBank pledged €45 billion of the total, to be invested by 2031 in northern France for data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, and other sectors including tractors, trucks, steel, and healthcare. Macron stated these projects will make France "by far the leading country hosting data centers in Europe" and a "forward base for the production of AI robots." SoftBank's founder Masayoshi Son highlighted France's nuclear-powered electricity as a key factor, enabling "conversion of electricity as a raw material into more high-value intelligence" for export. This investment positions France to bridge Europe's computing gap with the US and China, potentially creating significant opportunities for African tech partnerships given France's historical ties with West Africa.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/01/macron-announces-93bn-in-choose-france-investments/