From Suppliers to Strategic Partners
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.
About Business France
Business France is the public consulting business serving the international development of the French economy. It is responsible for fostering export-led growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating foreign investment in France.
It promotes France’s firms, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and also runs the VIE international internship program.
Business France has more than 1,400 personnel, both in France and in 53 countries throughout the world.
In 2023, support from Business France made it possible to generate €3.3 billion in additional export revenues for French SMEs and mid-size companies, accounting for more than 27,111 jobs created or planned. Business France supported 66% of the 1,688 foreign investment decisions in 2024, accounting for 69% of the 37,787 jobs created or maintained nationwide over the next 3 years.
For more information: www.businessfrance.fr
