Yahoo Finance·2025-10-09 09:10Core Investment Announcement - Google plans to invest €5 billion ($5.83 billion) in Belgium for 2026 and 2027, focusing on expanding its St. Ghislain data centre campus to enhance AI infrastructure for Google Cloud and core services like Search, Maps, and Workspace [1] - This new investment will bring Google's total investment in Belgium to over €11 billion since the establishment of its data centre in St. Ghislain in 2007 [2] Employment and Local Engagement - The data centre operations in Belgium currently employ around 600 individuals in various roles, including technical, engineering, security, and facilities [3] - Google maintains relationships with nearly 150 local suppliers, with 80 located in Wallonia [3] Energy Initiatives - Google has entered agreements for over 110 megawatts (MW) of carbon-free electricity with Eneco, Luminus, and Renner, aligning with its goal to operate on carbon-free energy [4] - Since 2010, Google has signed renewable power deals in Europe totaling over 4.5 gigawatts (GW), specifically supporting 365 MW of clean energy in Belgium [5] Economic Impact and Future Prospects - The investment is expected to strengthen Belgium's economy and energy transition while creating skilled jobs [5] - Analysis suggests that the widespread adoption of generative AI could add €45–50 billion to Belgium's GDP over the next 10 years [6]