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Entrepreneur
23-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
France and the GCC Reframe Their Economic Future at Vision Golfe 2025 in Paris
You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Gulf countries are no longer seen merely as consumers, they are now recognized as producers and increasingly, as global innovators, concludes the Vision Golfe 2025. The two-day event hosted more than 1,200 participants, including 550 high-level actors from GCC countries, at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty to deepen strategic ties and co-develop the economic future of both regions. The forum hosted five ministers, around 80 top-level speakers, over 2,000 formal and informal meetings, and more than 70 partner organizations, solidifying its position as a premier platform for France-GCC economic collaboration. The total trade between France and the GCC reached €21 billion in 2024, supported by a dynamic network of 17,000 French exporters to the Gulf, a sign of growing bilateral momentum and mutual opportunity. Vision Golfe 2025 was opened by Laurent Saint-Martin, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, Didier Boulogne, Deputy CEO for Export, Business France. Five ministers took part in this year's forum, including Éric Lombard, French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Qatar, and H.E. Mohammad Alhawi, Undersecretary of the Minister of Investment, United Arab Emirates. Other key participants included Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of AFALULA, Former French Minister, and Special Envoy of the French President for the Middle East, H.E. Dr Nouf Alnumair, Secretary General of the Ministerial Committee of Health in all Policies, Saudi Arabia, Pascal Cagni, French Ambassador for International Investment, Chairman of Business France, Abeer M. AlAkel, Chief Executive Officer for the Royal Commission for AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Shaima Saleh AlHusseini, Managing Director of Saudi Sports for All Federation, Saudi Arabia. "It is of utmost importance to underscore the need to strengthen the ties between the Gulf countries and France," stated Laurent Saint-Martin, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade. "This summit comes at a pivotal moment, one that calls for a strong reminder to the world of the strength of our existing bonds, and above all, of what still lies ahead for us to accomplish together. Vision Golfe serves as a showcase of our respective strengths." "Economic and trade cooperation is a cornerstone of the Qatari-French partnership," said H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Qatar. "Over the past five years, our bilateral trade reached approximately €11 billion. Today, the Qatari market is home to hundreds of French companies operating across multiple sectors, including TotalEnergies, Thales, and other key partners." As economic ties continue to deepen, public health and human development emerged as equally strategic pillars of cooperation. "We live in a world where the demand on the healthcare system is accelerating, driven by aging populations, chronic diseases, and increasing costs of care. By 2027, medical costs are expected to grow 7 to 8% annually," said H.E. Dr Nouf Alnumair. "In Saudi Arabia, we have made a clear strategic choice to look at health not only as a challenge to control, but as a value to protect, and a foundation to build on. France has long been a leader in public health innovation through critical research and digital health solutions, and Saudi Arabia brings its scale and integrated ecosystem to embrace reforms and drive innovation." "We offer a rapidly growing population, a digitally native workforce, a tech-savvy generation, and unwavering political commitment," Alnumair added. With 10 sectoral roundtables and 8 keynote speeches, the 2025 edition zoomed in on forward- looking cooperation in Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, energy, water, and waste management, health, transport, agriculture, education, luxury, retail, sports, and tourism. A key highlight this year was the launch of a dedicated panel on education and human capital. Across sessions, the issue of talent, how to develop, attract, retain, and empower it, was central. This included talent strategies linked to Vision 2030 agendas, cross-border knowledge and expertise transfer, French academic institutions expanding in the region to support long-term workforce transformation. One such initiative is the partnership between École Polytechnique and Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in the United Arab Emirates, a clear signal of France's contribution to the Gulf's knowledge economy. France sees powerful synergies between its France 2030 strategy and the transformative agendas of GCC nations, particularly in renewables, AI, deep tech, industrial innovation, and human capital. These shared priorities offer a strong basis for co-investment, co-production, and long-term joint value creation. "I am convinced that the development of business relationships is a factor of peace and stability" stated Éric Lombard, French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. "France is a leading voice within the European Union and a strong defender of building bridges between East and West. I believe our countries can serve each other as platforms to access new markets, especially in a context marked by tension and uncertainty." Beyond trade and diplomacy, social progress and well-being are also emerging as central themes of transformation across the region. "The Federation is a living, breathing example of how inclusion and empowerment is not just a goal but a reality in modern Saudi Arabia" said Shaima Saleh AlHusseini, Managing Director of Saudi Sports for All Federation. "We are not just building a better Saudi Arabia, we are building a healthier, happier Saudi Arabia. Through sports, we are adding an additional pillar to the Kingdom's economy." AlHusseini added. "While the Middle East continues to face significant tension, Business France and its partners remain committed to building bridges, and to building the future" said Didier Boulogne, Deputy CEO for Export at Business France. "We move forward on the basis of trust and mutual respect with our GCC partners: six countries with which France maintains truly exceptional relationships, as demonstrated by our daily work and growing partnerships on the ground." The forum closed with a powerful address by Ludovic Pouille, Director for Economic Diplomacy at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs: "This dialogue is not only economic: it's strategic, human, and forward-looking. Together, we are building the conditions for shared resilience and long-term prosperity." France has also reaffirmed its standing as Europe's top destination for foreign direct investment for the sixth consecutive year - a signal of stability, confidence, and opportunity.
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
French cultural and creative industry leaders embark on ICC Immersion 2025 in South Africa
The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Business France South Africa and Southern Africa are proud to announce the launch of ICC Immersion South Africa 2025, a dynamic initiative supporting French companies in the cultural and creative industries (Industries Culturelles et Créatives – ICC) ) as they explore partnerships and opportunities in South Africa's thriving creative economy. Launched in 2022 under the France 2030 plan, ICC Immersion is co-ordinated by the French General Secretariat for Investment (Secrétariat Général pour l'Investissement ) and driven by the French Institute and Business France headquarters in Paris, with support from the Banque des Territoires, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. ICC Immersion has been successfully run in over a dozen countries, including Australia, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and the UK. The 2025 edition is implemented by IFAS and Business France in Johannesburg. Strengthening French-South African relations ICC Immersion offers a unique opportunity to strengthen bilateral cultural ties while shining a spotlight on local talent, institutions, and innovation to a global network. By connecting French creatives and organisations with South African counterparts, the program stimulates knowledge exchange, co-creation, and potential investment in the cultural economy. It also opens doors for long-term collaboration in sectors ranging from fashion and architecture to heritage preservation and digital media. His Excellency Mr David Martinon, French Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, stated: 'ICC Immersion 2025 underscores France's focus on cultural diplomacy and creative entrepreneurship in South Africa and beyond. With a long-standing partnership across sectors, the programme highlights the mutual value of creative collaboration.' Meet the 2025 delegation from France This year's participating companies reflect the diversity and innovation of France's cultural and creative sectors: ALLEGRIA is a veteran event communications and business tourism agency known for immersive and monumental projections, producing lifestyle and cultural events for up to 180,000 attendees. Atrack (Beam for Music) helps artists and music publishers optimise royalty tracking and revenue recovery through advanced technology and data visualisation tools. Agence Culturelle PLUS (Reunion Island) is a cultural think tank facilitating dialogue between arts, heritage, and people, while revitalising traditional mediation tools through site-specific projects and festivals. Culturespaces manages 14 renowned cultural and heritage sites including the Atelier des Lumières in Paris, offering immersive exhibitions and audiovisual experiences across France and abroad. Fabrik & Moi (Reunion Island) is a high-end fashion brand focused on ethical and sustainable textile innovation, with a CSR-led project that transforms used fabrics into luxury pieces—featured most recently at Paris Fashion Week. France Muséums Développement provides strategic consulting for major museum projects globally, leveraging the expertise of leading French museums to foster cultural impact and audience engagement. Jakob + MacFarlane is a cutting-edge architecture and urban design firm known for socially committed, environmentally innovative projects across sectors—from museums and theatres to housing and research labs. Memorist brings together five French heritage firms to offer services in conservation, restoration, digitisation, and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural assets worldwide. SoundBirth is the first French startup to deliver an all-in-one mobile platform for artists, combining global music distribution, social media promotion, and AI-powered career support. ICC Immersion 2025 highlights The ICC Immersion programme began in April 2025 with an online immersion phase featuring market insight sessions and expert-led discussions. From 23 June to 2 July 2025, participants will take part in a 10-day physical immersion across Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town, including B2B meetings, site visits, and high-level networking events. A highlight of the programme will be the ICC Forum, to be held on 25 June 2025 at the French Residence, which is designed to deepen dialogue and foster networking opportunities between French and South African creatives and businesses. For more information about ICC Immersion South Africa 2025, visit:
Kuwait Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
France eyes deeper ties with Kuwait at Gulf Vision 2025
PARIS: The third edition of the Gulf Vision 2025 conference officially opened Tuesday in Paris, bringing together officials from Gulf and French governments, alongside business leaders, innovators, and policymakers. The event, held under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to usher in 'a new era of cooperation' between France and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, with Kuwait actively participating through its Embassy in France. Organized by Business France, the two-day forum is themed 'From Ambitious Visions to Tangible Impact: A New Era of Cooperation.' It serves as a strategic platform to deepen economic ties in the face of global economic transformations and mutual efforts to build more integrated, diversified economies. Kuwait plays a natural strategic role in this context, said Axel Baroux, Business France's Director for the Near and Middle East, in an interview with KUNA. He noted that Kuwait Vision 2035 aligns closely with France's 2030 Roadmap, highlighting the potential for joint economic transformation. 'The 2025 edition represents a turning point in economic relations between France and the GCC,' he said. 'By linking France 2030 with Gulf visions and transforming dialogue into concrete cooperation and actionable projects.' Baroux emphasized that the event offers direct access for French companies to GCC decision-makers and vice versa, paving the way for long-term, high-impact partnerships. The idea 'is to turn networking into contracts,' he added. The conference also aims to 'serve as a bridge for Gulf capital, including from Kuwait, into Europe.' A growing economic relationship According to Baroux, France is currently Kuwait's top European investor and the eighth globally, with major roles in energy, infrastructure, and transport. More than 50 percent of European companies operating in Kuwait are French, collectively employing over 2,100 people. He added that cooperation is expanding into sectors like healthcare, education, services, and green technology, all of which align with Kuwait's economic diversification goals. France is Kuwait's fourth-largest customer and tenth-largest supplier. The conference's agenda reflects shared priorities, including renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, smart infrastructure, and education. Top French officials attended the conference's opening ceremony, including Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Pascal Cagni, Chairman of the board of Business France. They highlighted the growing need for joint action in energy transition, AI, healthcare, and talent development. Kuwait projects in focus For Kuwaiti stakeholders, the event spotlights development opportunities in areas such as airports, ports, solar energy, recycling, AI, vocational education, and smart agriculture. Baroux highlighted health as a sector where France can play a transformative role. 'Kuwait's health sector accounts for 5.1 percent of its GDP and has seen major investments in infrastructure, prevention, and treatment—areas where France has strong technical and industrial expertise,' he said. Baroux added that Business France provides Kuwaiti companies with specialized advisors to support entry into the French market, offering legal and financial consultation, matchmaking, and links to research centers. Baroux concluded with an invitation to Kuwaiti investors and decision-makers, encouraging them to join 'the ambitious and open economic dialogue' offered by Gulf Vision 2025. 'France is committed to long-term partnerships grounded in innovation and shared development,' he said.
Arab Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Gulf Vision 2025 Conference to enhance strategic cooperation: French official
PARIS, France, June 16: France will host the Gulf Vision 2025 conference on June 17–18 in Paris under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to deepen economic cooperation and forge long-term partnerships between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — especially Kuwait — and France. In an interview with KUNA, Axel Baroux, Regional Managing Director for the Near and Middle East at Business France, emphasized that the upcoming conference will serve as a pivotal platform to promote strategic collaboration. The event will bring together ministers, investors, industry leaders, and innovators to foster partnerships in sectors such as energy transition, healthcare, artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, transportation, tourism, and education. Baroux highlighted the alignment between Kuwait Vision 2035 and France 2030, stressing that both countries are focused on sustainable innovation and economic diversification. He noted that Kuwait has played a significant role in previous editions of the conference, reflecting mutual interest in enhancing bilateral ties. The 2025 edition is expected to mark a turning point in Gulf–France economic relations. By facilitating direct engagement between French companies and Gulf decision-makers, the conference aims to move beyond dialogue to practical agreements and projects. France is currently the leading European investor and the eighth-largest global investor in Kuwait. More than half of the European companies operating in Kuwait are French, providing over 2,100 job opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, transportation, energy, and health. Baroux pointed to the growing cooperation in healthcare, education, green technology, and services, aligned with Kuwait's strategy to diversify its economy. He added that France's presence in Kuwait spans 89 companies across key sectors including luxury, cosmetics, food, and infrastructure. Business France, the conference organizer, works with approximately 2,000 French companies annually across the Gulf. It offers support in B2B matchmaking, market research, startup facilitation, and talent mobility. The agency also assists Kuwaiti firms looking to enter the French market by offering consulting, legal, and financial services, and access to government and research institutions. Calling on Kuwaiti investors and decision-makers to participate in Gulf Vision 2025, Baroux underscored the importance of turning conversations into concrete collaborations. Specific focus areas for Kuwait include health infrastructure, solar and renewable energy, water and waste management, AI, smart agriculture, and vocational training. The event will feature high-level sessions, including a "2030 Plans" ministerial roundtable and an 'Innovation for Sustainability' dialogue exploring resource management and future technologies. Baroux concluded by reiterating France's openness to long-term partnerships grounded in innovation, shared growth, and economic resilience. Business France, a leading government agency, is spearheading the initiative to bolster France's international economic outreach and attract foreign investment.
Iraq Business
30-05-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
France and Iraq Strengthen Economic Ties
By John Lee. In a strong show of support for Iraq's transformation, France hosted a high-level France-Iraq Business Forum in Paris, bringing together over 300 business leaders and decision-makers. Organised by Business France, the event aimed to reinforce bilateral economic ties and unlock long-term investment opportunities. Following the forum, key Iraqi institutions and French companies met over a working lunch to explore tangible, mutually beneficial projects. Discussions focused on structuring cooperation in critical sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and technology. French officials underscored their commitment to Iraq's economic recovery, with plans for a ministerial visit to Baghdad before July. " Iraq is transforming, and France is here to respond, " said a French representative, highlighting Iraq's strategic advantages and long-term potential. The forum also addressed challenges facing Iraq's recovery, including security, regulatory frameworks, and financing mechanisms. Both sides emphasised the need for sustained engagement and deeper institutional cooperation. (Source: Business France)
