The online distribution giant Amazon will invest 40 billion pounds (44 billion francs) in the United Kingdom, a titanic commitment presented as a strong signal by the British government, faced with economic difficulties.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met the managing director of the Seattle Andy Jassy group last week, sees this investment over three years (part of which was already known) a “big victory”, as well as “a vote of trust” for the United Kingdom.
In fact, this engagement falls out of date for the Labor Executive, which is struggling to keep its promise to revive growth, tossed between American customs duties, geopolitical tensions and internal criticisms on its economic policy -with tax increases and public investments deemed unrealistic by opposition.
The American giant offers himself a new major announcement, he who has been investing in tens of billions worldwide for years.
Last February, Andy Jassy displayed the ambition to invest more than $ 100 billion (87 billion euros) over the year, mainly in the cloud (remote computers) and artificial intelligence (AI).
James Bond
The billions of Amazon in the United Kingdom coincide opportunely with the government’s launch of an industrial strategy over ten years, aimed at making it “the best country to invest”, according to the Minister of Commerce, Jonathan Reynolds, quoted in the press release.
“The fact that large international companies like Amazon are focusing on the United Kingdom shows that we are on the right track,” insists the minister, expected Tuesday at the group’s headquarters in London.
The 40 billion pounds will be used to build four distribution centers in Hull, Northampton (both already known) and in the East Midlands.
Part of the sum will also finance the rehabilitation of Bray historic film studios, acquired in July 2024, to shoot films and series.
Amazon also signed in December an agreement with Games Workshop, the British company holding Warhammer 40,000 rights, to produce films and series from this futuristic fantasy universe, a project that includes actor Henry Cavill, performer of “Superman” and “The Witcher”.
The group also took creative control of the James Bond franchise in February after an agreement with the historic producers of the films, the Broccoli family, which will however remain co -owners.
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Amazon’s investment also includes a share of the 8 billion pounds (planned over five years) already announced last September to build and operate data centers, essential for AI and Cloud.
The United Kingdom is not the only one to benefit from Amazon’s expansion strategy in this area lately: last week, $ 20 billion Australian dollars (11 billion euros) have been promised for centers in Australia, the biggest technological investment ever made in the country.
Amazon had also announced in June 10 billion dollars (8.7 billion euros) in North Carolina and 20 billion (17.3 billion euros) in Pennsylvania, again for data centers and AI.
The group founded by Jeff Bezos, which currently employs 75,000 people in the United Kingdom on more than 100 sites, says it has already invested 56 billion pounds (65 billion euros) in the United Kingdom between 2010 and 2022.
It has recently been the subject of a British regulator investigation of food products, which suspects it of late payments to suppliers in the sector, a practice prohibited by industry rules.
If the offense was proven, Amazon could receive a fine of up to 1% of its annual turnover in the United Kingdom.
In recent years, he has also faced strikes and debraying for better wages in some of the country’s warehouses.
This article was published automatically. Sources: ATS / AWP / AFP
