((Automated translation by Reuters, please see disclaimer https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))
(Adds details throughout) by Supantha Mukherjee
Amazon AMZN.O said on Monday it would invest more than 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in its operations in France and create more than 3,000 permanent jobs in the country.
The French presidency said on Sunday that Amazon and other companies, including GSK GSK.L and Accenture ACN.N , would announce investments worth billions as part of the annual “Choose France” event, which begins Monday.
Amazon Web Services’ (()) investment in AWS will increase cloud infrastructure in the Paris region to support the thriving generative AI opportunity in France, as well as logistics infrastructure in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the company said in a press release.
The growing popularity of generative AI has fueled demand for cloud services, and France has become a center for AI, with promising startups such as Mistral and Poolside. Companies such as Meta and Google have established AI research centers in the country.
Amazon has invested more than €20 billion in its operations in France since 2010 and employs more than 22,000 permanent employees in its cloud and online retail businesses.
“These jobs are in addition to the 2,000 jobs that we have announced for 2024,” said Frédéric Duval, national director of Amazon France.
Part of the investment will also be used to expand its logistics network to increase the speed of deliveries and reduce carbon emissions. Amazon has more than 35 logistics facilities in France.
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