STORY: Big tech will invest big in France.
That's what giants like Microsoft and Amazon said on Monday (May 13).
The country won a record $16.17 billion in foreign investment pledges, in sectors ranging from AI to pharmaceuticals and energy.
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted business leaders for the annual "Choose France" summit.
Microsoft President Brad Smith was one of those in town.
"It is my honor, on behalf of all of my friends and colleagues here and literally around the world, to announce today, Microsoft's largest investment in France, in our 41-year history. It is truly an important day."
The U.S. tech giant said it would invest $4.31 billion in France.
Smith said the investment reflected France's commitment to a low-carbon energy program and Macron's business reforms.
"We want to be at the heart of the fight of decarbonization and artificial intelligence, but we want to do it with people we know, who trust us and in whom we trust."
Amazon said it would invest more than $1.3 billion in its French operations, and create more than 3,000 permanent jobs in the country.
Drug companies including Pfizer and AstraZeneca also announced investments together worth over $1 billion.
The French presidency said the overall investments included 56 different business projects, and could lead to the creation of 10,000 jobs.
