Berlin investor summit draws pledges of 200 to 230 billion euros, with doubts about follow-through

A first summit with about 200 invited investors

The federal government held its first Invest in Germany summit in Berlin on 19 and 20 October 2026, inviting around 200 international investors and executives. A reception on the Monday afternoon was followed by the opening on Tuesday, 20 October, where Merz told the audience that Germans are punctual, well organised and conscientious, the qualities investors need.

Ulrike Hinrichs, whose association represents private equity firms and investors, said the participants were 70% entrepreneurs and 30% investors, with a number of foreign investors among them. Accreditation and security checks at the ESMT university building on Berlin's Museum Island were so crowded, according to one commentary, that some investors missed the chancellor's speech. Inside, participants searched the four floors for meeting partners, and some left without a list of concrete projects to invest in.

Sums announced and where the figures diverge

Merz put the announced investment at about 230 billion euros. The economy minister spoke of a good 200 billion euros, while another account puts the announced corporate investments above 220 billion euros, naming Amazon, Nvidia and Microsoft among the companies. Hinrichs cited 16 billion dollars for a planned Amazon investment, while another account gives the same 16 billion figure in euros, so the currency remains unresolved. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang publicly committed to investment without naming a sum, according to Hinrichs, and another account says he signed an AI cooperation pact for industry with the chancellor. Merz also said foreign direct investment rose by around 50% in 2025 compared with 2024, to 86 billion euros.

The Made for Germany initiative

The Made for Germany strategy, presented at the summit, is tied to 147 participating companies and investors and to 850 billion euros of private investment running from late 2025 to 2028. Its backers present it as a bridge between business and government, aimed at cutting bureaucracy, improving innovation and strengthening competitiveness. Merz told the summit he sees growth accelerating in 2026 despite rising geopolitical pressure and a jump in energy prices. He also said Germany would stay on its reform course despite internal government differences after weak results in recent state elections.

Investors question follow-through

Hinrichs said bureaucracy is slowing approvals considerably, and that political uncertainty, including debates over nationalisation and antisemitism, irritates investors. She added that the government must still make the case with concrete projects.

A successful summit is not yet successful location policy.

She said Germany's many small projects, in renewable energy and building heating, must be bundled so that large investors will commit, and noted that Ardian already takes part in grid expansion. Readers responding to a Focus column were largely sceptical that a summit alone would win over investors, citing energy costs, permit delays and poor infrastructure.

What comes next

Lars Klingbeil, the SPD finance minister, drew laughter from the audience with a remark aimed at the investors in the room.

I want your money.

A Focus commentary by Thomas Tuma praised Germany's active courting of investors, while a second column described the format as a copy of Emmanuel Macron's Versailles gatherings. The open question is whether the pledged billions turn into named projects, some of which, according to Hinrichs, were discussed behind closed doors.