The Gulf region has evolved from being just a consumer market to becoming a hub of innovation and production. This transformation is highlighted by the presence of 2000 active French subsidiaries operating across the Gulf. These companies bring industrial expertise and contribute directly to the sustainable transformation of the region across key sectors. Claire Dufourney, Communications and Marketing Advisor at Business France in the Middle East, confirmed this in an interview with “Al-Eqtisadiah.” She noted that over two days, 1200 participants, including 550 high-profile figures from Gulf countries, gathered at France’s Ministry of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty to deepen strategic ties and collaborate on shaping the economic future of both regions.
The forum hosted five ministers, 80 high-level speakers, facilitated 2000 formal and informal meetings, and included 70 partner organizations, reinforcing its position as a leading platform for economic cooperation between France and the Gulf. Total trade between France and the Gulf reached 21 billion euros in 2024, supported by a dynamic network of 17,000 French exporters to the Gulf, indicating growing bilateral momentum and mutual opportunities.
The “Gulf Vision 2025” forum, which lasted a full day, was inaugurated by Laurent Saint-Martin, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Expatriates, with participation from five ministers, including France’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Eric Lombard, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Ahmed Al-Sayed, and the UAE’s Minister of Investment, Mohammed Al-Hawi.
Among the participants were Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the AlUla Association, Nouf Al-Namir, Secretary-General of the Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies, Pascal Cagni, France’s Ambassador for International Investment, Abeer Al-Aqeel, CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and Shaima Al-Husseini, General Manager of the Saudi Sports for All Federation.
Laurent Saint-Martin emphasized the importance of strengthening Gulf-France relations, stating that this summit marks a pivotal moment to highlight the strength of existing ties and future achievements. Nouf Al-Namir highlighted the growing demand for healthcare systems, driven by aging populations, chronic diseases, and rising healthcare costs. By 2027, medical costs are expected to grow by 8% annually. Saudi Arabia has strategically chosen to view health not only as a challenge to manage but as a value to protect and build upon.
France and the Gulf share strong synergies, particularly in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, advanced technology, industrial innovation, and human capital. These shared priorities provide a solid foundation for joint investments, production, and long-term value creation.
— News Original —
“بيزنس فرانس” لـ “الاقتصادية”: 2000 شركة فرنسية نشطة في دول الخليج
لم تعد دول الخليج تعتبر مجرد مستهلكة، بل تعتبر الآن منتجة، وبشكل متزايد، مبتكرين عالميين. يتجلى هذا التحول في وجود 2000 شركة فرنسية فرعية نشطة تعمل في جميع أنحاء منطقة الخليج.
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