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Under the High Patronage of
      Mr Emmanuel MACRON
       President of the French Republic

An event organized by Business France, under the aegis of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, as well as the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Registration for French companies
and their subsidiaries
Pre-registration
for African companies

Registrations are open until November 20th 2026, 6pm.

If you register after November 16th, there is no guarantee that you will be included in the event’s catalog.

PROGRAM

Tuesday November 24th, 2026 – Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry

7.30 : Participant Welcome

9.00 : Official Opening Speeches

Roland LESCURE, Minister for Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty, FRENCH REPUBLIC
Nicolas FORISSIER, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Attractiveness to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, FRENCH REPUBLIC
Louis MARGUERITTE, Chief Executive Officer, BUSINESS FRANCE
Christophe LECOURTIER, Chief Executive Officer, FRENCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

9.30 : Africa: Continent of Endless Opportunities (Official Panel)

H.E.M. Ahmed ROSTOM, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, EGYPT

H.E.M. Adama COULIBALY, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Sandra KASSAB, Director, Africa Department, FRENCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Pascal LOROT, Economist, President, INSTITUT CHOISEUL
Papa Amadou SARR, Managing Director, PORTEO 

Hosted by: Fatimata WANE, Journalist and Presenter

10.15 : Keynote

Joseph-Olivier BILEY, Co-founder, JOOL INTERNATIONAL

10.20 : Agriculture: Producing, Processing and Feeding the Future

Hon. Frank TUMWEBAZE, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
Fiona MACHARIA, Co-founder & Social Impact, Sustainability & Purpose Manager, KIASILI FARM
Rym MAKHLOUFI, Managing Director Europe & Deputy CEO, CHO GROUP
Speaker to be confirmed, PROPARCO
Yaya SALL, Head of Agricultural Division, YELLITAARE

Hosted by: Fatimata WANE, Journalist and Presenter

11.05 : Cybersecurity, Governance and Modernisation: Addressing Africa’s Technology Challenges

Ines GAM, Global Director of Strategic Alliance and International Affairs, NEOLEDGE
Julien PREVEL, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board, SOGET
Simon MINKOWSKI, Director for Anti-piracy – Africa, CANAL +
Samia BENDALI-AMOR, IT & Network Services Director, SOFRECOM
Jérôme LE GROGNEC, CEO & Strategic Director, HODI

Hosted by: Christophe DANSETTE, Journalist and Presenter, FRANCE 24

11.50 : Healthcare in Africa: Ensuring Access for All, Everywhere ?

Dr. Comfort Peace AYIKORU, Medical Doctor, Co-Founder & CEO, BURICARE LIMITED
Dhouha GAAYA, Chief Operating & Healthcare Development Officer, MSH INTERNATIONAL
Marchal BALOU, General Manager, CELIUM GROUP

Hosted by: Elom TOBLE, Journalist, FRANCE 24

12.20 : Conclusion

Éléonore CAROIT, Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, FRENCH REPUBLIC

12.25 : Innovation Contest Pitch Session

Winston REID, Co-founder & CEO, ALVIN TECHNOLOGIES
Jean LOBE LOBE, Founder & CEO, WASPITO
Winny DANIEL, Founder & President, MUZIKIN DISTRIBUTION

12.30 : Networking Cocktail

14.00 : Afternoon Opening

Sophie SIDOS-VICAT, President, THE CONSEILLERS DU COMMERCE EXTÉRIEUR DE LA FRANCE (CCEs)
Etienne GIROS, President, CIAN

14.10 : Strategic Corridors for Regional Integration  

Paul TASONG, Minister Delegate in charge of Planning at Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, CAMEROON
Adeline GABILLAUD, Director of the Africa Regional Office, CMA CGM
Houda BELGHITH, Regional Director of Business Development for Africa & Middle East, AIRBUS
Samia EL ARFAOUI, Managing Director, France, Belgium & Africa,TARGA TELEMATICS

Hosted by: Arnaud FLEURY, Economic Journalist

14.40 : Doing Business in Africa: Keys to Success in a Diverse Business Environment

Louise Pierrette MVONO, Minister of Planning and Foresight, GABON
Rachel PUNGU LUAMBA, CEO, ANAPI
Gauthier BOURLARD, Head of Partnerships, BANQUE AFRICAINE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT
Abdelmalek ALAOUI, CEO & Founder, GUEPARD GROUP
François KOUELI, West Africa Development & Projects Manager, GLOBAL MIND CONSULTING
Christian GOMINA PAMALI, Director, AKOUNI BUSINESS, INVESTIR A BANGUI

Hosted by: Patrice FÉRUS, Journalist, TV5 MONDE

15.45 : Innovation for Water and Waste Management

Joseph MUTUGU, CEO, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD, KENYA
Dr. Jean Albert MANIGOMBA, CEO, REGIDESO
Habib N’KONOU, Co-founder, DR SETT
Eloi GRANBOULAN, Business Development Director, SUEZ INTERNATIONAL
Hassan ABDALLAH, CEO, ALTIUS HOLDING

Hosted by: Arnaud FLEURY, Economic Journalist

16h20 : Keynote

Sandy ABENA, Reporter for Africa & Founder, ABENAFRICA

16.25 : Destination Africa: Place Branding, Tourism and Investment Attractiveness

Kade CAMARA, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Attractiveness and International Outreach, GUINEA DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Mariama TOURE GUEYE, CEO, VISIBLE
Joseph-Olivier BILEY, Founder, L’ANCRAGE SASSANDRA
Sindé CHEKETE, CEO, BENIN TOURISME

Hosted by: Ambre DELCROIX, Journalist and Public Relations Consultant

17.00 : Retail & Franchising: Winning African consumers

Fabrice DEROUET, Director of Strategy, Brands and Engagement, GROUPE HOLDER | PAUL
Aristote MONGA, Sales Director, ARISGROS

Hosted by: Izar HYACINTHE, Founder and Director, AFRETAIL

17.35 : Conclusion

18.00 : Networking Dinner Cocktail & Concert

Hosted by MansA – La Maison des Mondes Africains

Wednesday November 25th, 2026 – Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry

8.00 : Participant welcome

9.00 : Official Opening

Didier BOULOGNE, Chief Operating Officer – Export Division, BUSINESS FRANCE
Nicolas BONNET, CEO, CCI FRANCE

9.10 : Keynote: “African Talent, Africa’s Future: From Potential to Opportunities”

Christiana ONOJA, Co-founder & CEO, SHECODE.AI

9.15 : Africa’s Talent Development

Mehdi EL-KESRI, CEO, UM6P GLOBAL HUBS
Jean-Louis KOUO, Managing Director, ESTUDIAL
Marième-Sav SOW, Vice President for Africa Engagement and Advocacy, TOTALENERGIES
Johanne BRUFFAERTS, General Manager, EPITECH AFRIQUE
Paul MORINIERE, COO & Country Director (Congo), IECD

Hosted by: Fatimata WANE, Journalist and Presenter

10.00 : Business Law and Legal Integration: From Theory to Practice

Jimmy KODO, Lawyer, Former Technical Advisor to the President of the CCJA, ORGANIZATION FOR THE HARMONIZATION OF BUSINESS LAW IN AFRICA (OHADA)
Zakaria ALBAROUNI, General Manager, ALBARAKA INSURANCE
Aurélie CHAZAI, Managing Partner, CHAZAI WAMBA

Animée par : Elom TOBLE, Journalist, FRANCE 24

10.35 : Keynote

Mr. Samuel Gyamfi, Esq.CEO, Ghana GOLDBOD

10.40 : Advancing Energy Sovereignty in Africa: What Solutions?

Mike SANGSTER, President Exploration & Production South Africa, Senior Vice President, Africa, TOTALENERGIES
Inès MUNGAZI, Founder, TIPTECH ENERGIE
Guillaume NIARFEIX, Managing Director for West Africa, SPIE
Speaker to be confirmed, BPIFRANCE
Speaker to be confirmed, MASEN

Hosted by: Arnaud FLEURY, Economic Journalist

11.25 : Sports Business as a Catalyst for Growth and Investment

Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) J.K. Tuwei, President & Vice President, KENYA ATHLETICS, WORLD ATHLETICS
Abel KIRUI, Two-time world marathon champion and Olympic silver medalist, KENYA
Sylvère-Henry CISSE, APM Expert, Journalist, Author & Trainer, ASSOCIATION PROGRES DU MANAGEMENT
Eric LEPORT, President, ALCOR EQUIPMENTS

Hosted by : Elom TOBLE, Journalist, FRANCE 24

12.10 : Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony

12.30 : Networking Cocktail

13.30 : Boosting Entrepreneurship through Access to Finance for African SMEs  

Kaouthar MEHREZ, Managing Partner, GALITE PARTNERS
David FOFANA, CEO, MAYELIA PARTICIPATIONS
Speaker to be confirmed, BPIFRANCE

Hosted by: Isabelle AIMONETTI, President, French Foreign Trade Advisor, African
Committee

14.15 : Luxury, Fashion & Beauty: Building World Class Value Chains

Violet AMOABENG, Founder & CEO, SKIN GOURMET LIMITED
Moustapha Sy NDIAYE, Founder, MARAZ ORIGINS
Denise MANE THIAW, Co-founder and Creative Director, SAYANA
Rosine NZIETCHUENG, Coordinator of the “Loxo” Project, Technical Adviser to the Executive Management, 3FPT, MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINING, SENEGAL

Hosted by: Ambre DELCROIX, Journalist and Public Relations Consultant

15.00 : (Re)Thinking the African Cities of Tomorrow: Urbanism

Charles M. HINGA, Principal Secretary, STATE DEPARTMENT FOR HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, REPUBLIC OF KENYA
Jérémy BARLA, Architect, Managing Partner, BARLABARLA ARCHITECTES
Moussa DIOP, Managing Director, DELEGATION GENERALE A LA PROMOTION DES POLES URBAINS DE DIAMNADIO ET DU LAC ROSE
Madi MADI-HALIDI, Director, TERRE & EAU

Hosted by: Arnaud FLEURY, Economic Journalist

15.40 : (Re)Thinking the African Cities of Tomorrow: Transport

Sergio TATI, Co-founder & CEO, ANDA
Speaker to be confirmed, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Papa Amadou SARR, Former Minister in the Senegalese government, CEO, PORTEO
Speaker to be confirmed, RATP DEV

Hosted by: Arnaud FLEURY, Economic Journalist

16.20 : Cultural and Creative Industries: Driving Africa’s Growth and Global Influence

Salif TRAORE dit A’SALFO, President, FONDATION MAGIC SYSTEM & PDG, GAOU PRODUCTION
Claudy SIAR, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Benin, REPUBLIC OF BENIN
Malick KEBE, CEO, FONDS DE DEVELOPPEMENT DES ARTS ET DE LA CULTURE EN GUINEE
Jean-Michel BONARD, Director for Music Business, TRACE

Hosted by: Fatimata WANE, Journalist and Presenter

17.00 : Closing Remarks

Marc CAGNARD, Managing Director of Subsaharan Africa, BUSINESS France
Philippe GARCIA, Managing Director of Northern Africa, BUSINESS FRANCE

17.15 : End of the Event

This programme is provided for information purposes only and is subject to change.

FEES & REGISTRATIONS

Registration will remain open until Friday, November 20 at 6:00 p.m.

French companies & subsidiaries

  • Unique entrance fee : 450 € ex-VAT
  • B2B meetings included
  • Access to all panels included
REGISTER NOW

African companies

  • Free participation* (within a limited number of seats)
  • B2B meetings included
  • Access to all panels included
* If our local offices accept your application: only companies interested in the offers and services of French companies or interesting in investing in France will be accepted.
PRE-REGISTRATION

HIGHLIGHTS FROM AMBITION AFRICA 2025

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MODERATORS

Fatimata
WANE
Journalist and news presenter
–
MASTER OF CEREMONY
Arnaud
FLEURY
Economic journalist
Patrice
FÉRUS
Journalist
–
TV5 MONDE
Ambre
DELCROIX
Journalist and Public Relations Consultant
Christophe
DANSETTE
Journalist
–
FRANCE 24
Elom
TOBLE
Journalist
–
FRANCE 24
Izar
HYACINTHE
Founder and Managing Director
–
AFRETAIL

SPEAKERS

Roland LESCURE
Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty
–
FRENCH REPUBLIC
Nicolas FORISSIER
Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for Foreign Trade and Attractiveness
–
FRENCH REPUBLIC
Louis MARGUERITTE


Chief Executive Officer
–
BUSINESS FRANCE

Claudy SIAR


Special Adviser to the President of the Republic of Benin
–
REPUBLIC OF BENIN

Christophe LECOURTIER
Chief Executive Officer
–
AGENCE FRANCAISE DE DEVELOPPEMENT
Gauthier BOURLARD

Director of Partnerships
–
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Sophie SIDOS-VICAT

Prsident
–
FRENCH FOREIGN TRADE ADVISORS

Abdelmalek ALAOUI
CEO & Founder
–
GUEPARD GROUP
Adeline GABILLAUD
Director, Africa Regional Office
–
CMA CGM
Tbc
Tbc
–
BPIFRANCE
Fiona MACHARIA
Co-Founder and Head of Social Impact, Sustainability and Purpose
–
KIASILI FARM
Nicolas BONNET
Managing Director
–
CCI FRANCE
Jackson TUWEI
President
Acting President
Vice-President
–
KENYA ATHLETICS
CAA
WORLD ATHLETICS

Joseph-Olivier BILEY
Co-founder
–
JOOL INTERNATIONAL

Houda BELGHITH
Regional Director, Business Development, Africa & Middle East
–
AIRBUS
Mike SANGSTER
President Exploration & Production South-Africa
Senior VP Africa
–
TOTALENERGIES
Dr. Comfort Peace AYIKORU
Medical Doctor, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
–
BURICARE LIMITED
Pascal LOROT
Economist, President
–
INSTITUT CHOISEUL
Ines GAM
Director of Alliances & International Affairs
–
NEOLEDGE
Jérémy BARLA
Architect, Managing Director
–
BARLABARLA ARCHITECTES
Eric LEPORT

President
–
ALCOR EQUIPMENTS

Violet AMOABENG
Founder & CEO
–
SKIN GOURMET
Julien PREVEL
CEO & Chairman of the Board
–
SOGET
Sandra KASSAB
Director – Africa Department
–
AGENCE FRANCAISE DE DEVELOPPEMENT
Samia EL ARFAOUI
MD – France, Balgium, Africa
–
TARGA TELEMATICS
Habib N’KONOU
Co-founder
–
DR SETT
Sandy ABENA

Africa Reporter & Founder
–
ABENAFRICA






Sylvère-Henry CISSE

APM Expert, Journalist, Author & Trainer
–
ASSOCIATION PROGRES DU MANAGEMENT

Christiana ONOJA

Co-Founder & CEO
–
SHECODE.AI




Didier BOULOGNE

COO – Export Division
–
BUSINESS FRANCE




Ines MUNGAZI

Founder & CEO
–
TIPTECH ENERGIES




Jean-Louis KOUO

Associate Director
–
ESTUDIAL




Marième-Sav SOW

VP Engagement & Advocacy, Africa
–
TOTALENERGIES



Jimmy KODO

Lawyer, Former Technical Adviser to the President of the CCJA
–
OHADA




Dhouha GAAYA

Director of Operations & Healthcare Business Development
–
MSH INTERNATIONAL




Kaouthar MEHREZ

Managing Partner
–
GALITE PARTNERS




Moustapha Sy NDIAYE

Founder
–
MARAZ




Sergio TATI

Co-Founder & CEO
–
ANDA




Malick KEBE

CEO
–
FONDS DE DEVELOPPEMENT DES ARTS ET DE LA CULTURE – FODAC




Moussa DIOP

Executive Director
–
DELEGATION GENERALE A LA PROMOTION DES POLES URBAINS DE DIAMNADIO ET DU LAC ROSE




Aurélie CHAZAI

Managing Partner
–
CHAZAI WAMBA




Isabelle AIMONETTI

CEO
–
PUBLICIS – AG PARTNERS




Rosine NZIETCHUENG

Technical Adviser
to the Executive Management of 3FPT
–
SENEGAL’S MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINING




Saia BENDALI-AMOR

IT & Network Services Director
–
SOFRECOM




Tbc

Tbc
–
IECD




Tbc

Tbc
–
PROPARCO




Tbc

Tbc
–
CHO



Tbc

Tbc
–
YELLITAARE



Simon MINKOWSKI

Director for Anti-piracy – Africa
–
CANAL+



Tbc

Tbc
–
HODI




Kamel AL-WAZIR

Minister for Transportation
–
EGYPTE




François KOUELI

West Africa Development & Projects Manager
–
GLOBAL MIND CONSULTING



Tbc

Tbc
–
AKOUNI


Tbc

Tbc
–
Celium



Kade CAMARA

Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Attractiveness and International Outreach
–
GUINEA DEVELOPMENT BOARD




Tbc

Tbc
–
VISIBLE




Fabrice DEROUET

Directeur de la Stratégie, Marques et Engagements
–
GROUPE HOLDER, PAUL


Tbc

Tbc
–
TRACE

Tbc

Tbc
–
EPITECH


Tbc

Tbc
–
ALBAKARA



Samuel GYAMFI

Esq.CEO
–
GHANA GOLDBOD



Tbc

Tbc
–
WHIBA HOLDING

Serge EKUE

President
–
BANQUE OUEST-AFRICAINE DE DEVELOPPEMENT

Hon. Frank TUMWEBAZE

Ministre de l’Agriculture, de l’Industrie animale et des Pêches
–
OUGANDA

Etienne GIROS

President
–
CIAN

AN EVENT SUPPORTED BY

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

IN-KIND PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS

MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY, FINANCE AND INDUSTRY

139 rue de Bercy, Paris 75012
Métro: Lines 14 & 6 (Bercy Station)

DATE & TIME


Tuesday, November 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 25, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We kindly ask you to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of the programme each day. Please bring a valid form of identification, which will be required upon arrival.