Google strengthens its footprint in Wallonia with a new €5 billion investment
Google announced during the Belgian economic mission to California in October 2025 a historic additional investment of €5 billion in Wallonia by 2027. This commitment will bring the total amount invested by the American company in Belgium to more than €11 billion since 2007.
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In 2007, when the Mountain View–based company chose Saint-Ghislain, near Mons, to establish its very first data center outside the United States, few imagined how significant this project would become. Eighteen years later, that visionary decision has positioned Wallonia as a strategic global hub for the American tech company.
During the Belgian economic mission to California, chaired by HRH Princess Astrid, Google announced a new €5 billion investment to expand its campus in the Hainaut province. This impressive figure raises Google’s total investment in Belgium to more than €11 billion since the company first established operations in Wallonia.
A region that attracts, a site that keeps growing
In Saint-Ghislain, the data center already employs around 600 people. The announced expansion will create an additional 300 jobs, further strengthening Google’s local presence.
Beyond the figures, the site reflects a long-term development dynamic: 80 Walloon suppliers work directly with Google, and the economic impact already amounts to hundreds of millions of euros. According to a study by Deloitte and the University of Mons, these investments could generate up to €1.5 billion in GDP per year by 2027, while supporting nearly 15,000 direct and indirect jobs annually.
Artificial intelligence is a tremendous opportunity. But to benefit from it, you need solid infrastructure. Saint-Ghislain plays a key role for all of Europe
Innovation and sustainability hand in hand
The announcement was made from Silicon Valley, the global center of innovation. But it is in Wallonia that these investments are being put into practice. The Saint-Ghislain servers power services used daily by billions of people — Google Search, Maps, Workspace — and especially the Cloud infrastructure supporting the rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence.
Target of 100% carbon-free operations by 2030;
New renewable energy contracts with Belgian partners such as Eneco, Luminus, and Renner;
Commitment to restore 120% of the water used at the site.
