US technology giant Amazon plans to invest more than €16bn in Germany in 2027, targeting data centres, artificial intelligence infrastructure and other business operations.
The investment, announced at a government-hosted business summit in Berlin on Tuesday, is expected to support Germany’s efforts to attract high-tech investment and revive its sluggish economy.
Nearly €5bn of the planned spending will go towards expanding Amazon Web Services’ cloud computing operations in the Frankfurt area, where demand for artificial intelligence services is growing.
Some of the investment will also support Amazon Leo, the company’s satellite network project aimed at providing high-speed internet access.
Amazon said it would upgrade its warehouses, including by deploying more robotics, while its Prime Video service plans to film a range of new productions in Germany.
The company’s chief global affairs and legal officer, David Zapolsky, described Germany as a major centre for innovation and an attractive investment destination in Europe. He added that Amazon had invested more than €100bn in the country since 2010.
Germany’s Economy Minister, Katherina Reiche, said the investment would strengthen the country’s position in international technology competition while creating jobs and economic value.
The announcement comes as Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government seeks to encourage companies to expand their operations despite concerns about bureaucracy, high energy costs and shortages of skilled workers.
Merz told the summit that his coalition had begun an ambitious programme of reforms and modernisation. He identified tax relief, reducing bureaucracy and strengthening financial markets as key priorities.
Reiche said earlier in a radio interview that companies had pledged more than €220bn in investments at the summit, which brought together over 200 corporate leaders from Germany and abroad.
The event began on Monday, with Merz holding a discussion with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang.
Germany also announced a partnership with Nvidia to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in industrial applications, an area in which the country hopes to strengthen its competitive position.
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