Merz, Billions and Amazon: What Berlin’s Preview Reveals

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Merz, Billions and Amazon: What Berlin’s Preview Reveals.

At the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) presented a new investment program at the federal government’s “Invest in Germany” summit on Tuesday. According to the program, around €800 billion from several companies is expected to flow into business locations in Germany by 2028—including major US tech groups. Merz was joined by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) and Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU).

€800 Billion by 2028: What Is Behind the Number?

The figure in context

The €800 billion does not represent a new state funding package, but rather the combined total of private investments that companies plan to make in Germany over the coming years. To put the figure in context, Merz pointed to an already visible change in the trend: Foreign investment in Germany rose by around 50 percent from 2024 to 2025—to a total volume of €86 billion last year.

“We are seeing accelerated growth in 2026 despite rising geopolitical pressure and a jump in energy prices,” Merz told domestic and international business representatives. Tuesday was regarded as a day of major announcements—it had already emerged on Monday that chipmaker Nvidia intended to expand its investment in Germany, with further announcements expected over the course of Tuesday.

Amazon Enters With €16 Billion

What the tech giant specifically plans

Amazon brought the most prominent new name. As Bild first reported, the US company intends to invest €16 billion in Germany next year. According to the report, the money will be used to develop data centers and AI infrastructure and to build a system for accessing satellite internet. New logistics projects and offerings from the Prime Video streaming division are also part of the package.

The expansion of cloud service provider Amazon Web Services (AWS) at its Frankfurt site is already known. The company is therefore targeting not only the consumer market, but also business from companies that process their data in the cloud—an area that has benefited greatly from the AI boom in recent years.

Merz Woos With Beach Towels

The business-location pitch, verbatim

In his speech to business representatives, Merz used an unusual stylistic device: He praised Germans’ purported virtues while deliberately playing to clichés. “Germans are considered hard-working, go to bed early and are already up before sunrise,” the chancellor said. Morning rush-hour traffic is heaviest between 6 and 7 a.m.

He connected this to his investment message through vacation: “On vacation, we are the first on the beach and put our towels out before breakfast. And when we agree delivery deadlines, we meet them too.” Germans were reliable, predictable, precise and not given to surprises. His conclusion: “In short: We are exactly what investors value most.” The good thing about clichés, the CDU politician added, is that they are often full of truth.

What This Means for Germany as a Business Location

The assessment

For you, this means: If the plans are actually implemented, an enormous amount of private capital will flow to Germany in the coming years—not directed by the federal government, but by companies that are currently making their location decisions. That Amazon, following Nvidia, has now become the second US tech giant to publicly outline its plans for Germany fits the picture of accelerated growth despite geopolitical pressure and rising energy prices that Merz described.

What the summit did not answer, however, was whether the announced €800 billion will actually become investment. That depends on conditions being decided beyond the stage: Permitting processes, energy costs and the availability of skilled workers will jointly determine which plans are really implemented. The location speech with the towels may have entertained the audience—but binding commitments look different.