The third edition of Vision Golfe, a leading forum for economic dialogue between France and the Gulf countries, brought together over 1,200 participants, including 550 high-level stakeholders from the region.
The forum also 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.
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, said the event organisers.
These companies bring industrial expertise and contribute directly to the region’s sustainable transformation across critical sectors, they stated.
The two-day event, convened at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, was aimed at deepening strategic ties and co-developing the economic future of both regions.
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 and 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; Ahmad Al Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Qatar; Mohammad Alhawi, Undersecretary of the Minister of Investment, UAE.
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; 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 and 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, after inaugurating Vision Golfe 2025.
"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," he stated.
Al Sayed said: "Economic and trade cooperation is a cornerstone of the Qatari-French partnership. 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 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," stated Dr Alnumair.
"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," she noted.
"We offer a rapidly growing population, a digitally native workforce, a tech-savy generation, and unwavering political commitment," she added.
With 10 sectoral roundtables and 8 keynote speeches, the 2025 edition zoomed in on forward-looking cooperation in: AI and emerging technologies; energy, water, and waste management; health, transport, agriculture, education as well as 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.
"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," noted Lombard.
"I believe our countries can serve each other as platforms to access new markets, especially in a context marked by tension and uncertainty," he added.
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, said the organisers.
These shared priorities offer a strong basis for co-investment, co-production, and long-term joint value creation.
Beyond trade and diplomacy, social progress and well-being are also emerging as central themes of transformation across the region, they stated.
Shaima Saleh AlHusseini, Managing Director of Saudi Sports for All Federation, said: "The Federation is a living, breathing example of how inclusion and empowerment is not just a goal but a reality in modern Saudi Arabia."
"We are not just building a better Saudi Arabia, we are building a healthier, happier Saudi Arabia," she stated. "Through sports, we are adding an additional pillar to the Kingdom’s economy," she added.-TradeArabia News Service
