Paris, June 23, 2025 – Gulf countries are no longer seen merely as consumers, they are now
recognized as producers and increasingly, as global innovators. This shift is reflected in the
presence of 2,000 active French subsidiaries operating across the Gulf region. These
companies bring industrial expertise and contribute directly to the region’s sustainable
transformation across critical sectors.
Over two days, more than 1,200 participants, including 550 high-level actors from GCC
countries, convened 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.
Opening Remarks and Strategic Representation
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
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-savy generation,
and unwavering political commitment,” Alnumair added.
Sectoral Convergence and Talent as a Driver
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 and the GCC: Shared Visions, Shared Stakes
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.
Vision Golfe: A Platform Built to Deliver
Organized by Business France, Vision Golfe 2025 was made possible thanks to the
engagement of key partners:
Thallium Consulting
Ajman University
Bank SAB
Bpifrance
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
Modern Building Leaders & ICAD
Power International Holding and Estithmar Holding
Ethmar International Holding
“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.”
As a flagship platform for bilateral cooperation, the forum aims to accelerate deals, deepen
joint initiatives, and shape a sustainable, shared economic future.
Closing Message: Trust, Continuity, and Common Purpose
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.
