Succeed in Canada

Export, invest and take over a business

Palais du Luxembourg I Paris I February 16, 2026
Hôtel de Région I Lyon I February 17 2026
CCI I Nantes I February 18, 2026

Business France is offering three days dedicated to Canada on 16, 17 and 18 February 2026 in Paris, Lyon and Nantes.

Each year, Business France and the partners of Team France Export organize an event designed for high-potential French companies looking to expand and/or establish themselves in Canada.

A true platform for Franco-Canadian exchanges and partnerships, the event will bring together business leaders, institutional representatives and experts around a shared objective: supporting the success and growth of French companies in the Canadian market.

For this 8th edition, organized in collaboration with the French Senate, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Pays de la Loire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we offer companies a clear overview of the market challenges, along with practical guidance to successfully establish or expand their export activities in Canada.

february 16, palais du luxembourg, PARIS

february 17, hôtel de région, lyon

february 18, cci, nantes

REGISTRATION

Registration deadline: February 12, 2026

On-site attendance is primarily reserved for French companies with an export development and/or establishment project in Canada, as well as Canadian companies seeking French partners.

REGISTER FREE OF CHARGE

PROGRAM

8:15 AM – COFFEE RECEPTION

9:00 AM - Opening remarks

Gérard LARCHER, President of the French Senate – speech read by Loïc HERVÉ, Vice-President of the Senate, Senator for Haute-Savoie
Loïc HERVÉ, Vice-President of the Senate, Senator for Haute-Savoie
Nicolas FORISSIER, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and France’s Attractiveness – video message
François-Philippe CHAMPAGNE, Minister of Finance and National Revenue of Canada – video message
Didier BOULOGNE, Deputy Managing Director for Export, BUSINESS FRANCE

9:20 AM – Economic Outlook, Bilateral Relations and the French Presence in Canada

Jean CHAREST, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1993), 29th Premier of Québec (2003–2012), Partner, THERRIEN COUTURE JOLICŒUR (TCJ) – video message
Pierre MOUSSY, Head of the Regional Economic Department, FRENCH EMBASSY IN CANADA
Frédéric ROSSI, CEO USA & Canada, BUSINESS FRANCE
Marcos CARIAS, North America Economist, COFACE
Jean-Toussaint OLIVIERI BATTESTINI, International Trade Expert – CETA, Office of the Chief Economist, Global Affairs Canada, EXPERTISE FRANCE

10:00 AM – Best Models for Sustainable and Successful Market Entry in Canada: Focus on Provinces

Opening of the panel

Jean-Philippe TACHDJIAN, Minister-Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs, EMBASSY OF CANADA IN FRANCE

Successful establishment models in Québec

Rachelle SORIN, CEO, ALLIANCE ECONOMIQUE FRANCE QUÉBEC
Jean-François LUPIEN, Director, Foreign Direct Investment, INVESTISSEMENT QUEBEC INTERNATIONAL
Maud DE LA BELLEISSUE, CEO, SOMNO ENGINEERING

Successful establishment models in Ontario

Pamela KANTER, Advisor (Commercial Affairs – Ontario), EMBASSY OF CANADA IN FRANCE
Sean SMITH, Market Development, Europe, EDC WATERLOO

GO WEST : special focus on Western Canada

Ranissah SAMAH, Agent General, SASKATCHEWAN OFFICE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Raphaël DANG, Consul General of France in Vancouver, MINISTRY FOR EUROPE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

10:55 AM – The usefulness and role of ecosystems and collaborative models for business growth

Baptiste ORLANDINI, CEO, CHOOSE PARIS REGION
Christelle ROUSSEAU, CEO, CCIFC
Carl VIEL, President & CEO, QUEBEC INTERNATIONAL

11:25 AM – Expertise and local anchoring: key elements for doing business in Canada

Panel of experts: taxation, legal affairs, immigration, banking, recruitment, subsidiary management

Natacha MIGNON, Immigration lawyer in Canada, IMMETIS
Geneviève GAGNÉ, Partner, International Affairs, THERRIEN COUTURE JOLI-CŒUR (TCJ)
Rachelle SORIN, CEO, BANQUE NATIONALE DU CANADA (Europe Representation Office)
Patrick FERRON, Group Managing Partner, ALTIOS
Martha BREITHAUPT, Partner – Credits & Incentives, BDO
Katherine GRAFFIN, CEO, MONDASSUR
Sébastien OUM, CEO, AMBRIVA

12:25 PM – Closing remarks

Michel MIRAILLET, Ambassador of France to Canada – video message
Rémy POINTEREAU, Senator for Cher, President of the France–Québec Friendship Group
Nadia BURGER, Chargée d’affaires, EMBASSY OF CANADA IN FRANCE

12:45 PM – NETWORKING LUNCH

14:00-17:00 PM – B2B and experts meetings

Meetings with Business France international sector experts
Meetings with the event’s partners and sponsors

9:00 AM – COFFEE RECEPTION

9:30 AM - Opening remarks

Philippe MEUNIER, Vice President of the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Isabelle BOURGADE, President, CENTRE JACQUES CARTIER
Jérôme JULLIAND, Regional Director, BUSINESS FRANCE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

9:45 AM - Economic outlook, bilateral relations, national priorities and Canada’s diversification strategy

Samuel Gendreau-Bélanger, Economic Affairs Officer, EMBASSY OF CANADA IN FRANCE
Frédéric ROSSI, CEO USA & Canada, BUSINESS FRANCE
Pierre BEYNET, Economist, OCDE – TBC
Jean CHAREST, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1993),
29th Premier of Quebec (2003–2012), Partner, THERRIEN COUTURE JOLICŒUR (TCJ) – video message

10:15 AM – Best models for a sustainable and successful market entry in Canada

Successful establishment models in Québec

Alice FLOURENT, Director, Foreign Direct Investment, France, INVESTISSEMENT QUEBEC INTERNATIONAL

Successful establishment models in Ontario

Pamela KANTER, Advisor (Commercial Affairs – Ontario), EMBASSY OF CANADA IN FRANCE

Successful establishment models in Saskatchewan

Ranissah SAMAH, Agent General, SASKATCHEWAN OFFICE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

10:45 AM – The Usefulness and Role of Ecosystems and Collaborative Models for Business Growth

Joelle SEUX, Director, international division, ARAE
Carl VIEL, President & CEO, QUEBEC INTERNATIONAL
Sean SMITH, Market development, Europe, WATERLOO EDC

Company feedback

Thomas Lamy, Founder & CEO, NEOFUGU

11:15 AM – Expertise and local anchoring: key success factors for doing business in Canada, with contributions from legal, tax, banking, immigration and subsidiary management experts

Geneviève GAGNÉ, Partner, International affairs, THERRIEN COUTURE JOLI-CŒUR (TCJ)
Rachelle SORIN, CEO, NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA (Europe Representation Office)
Natacha MIGNON, Immigration lawyer in Canada, IMMETIS
Patrick FERRON, Group Managing Partner, ALTIOS
Martha BREITHAUPT, Partner – Credits & Incentives, BDO

12:00 PM – Q&A and conclusion

Marie-Laure REYNAUD, Honorary Consul of Canada – TBC

12:30 PM – NETWORKING LUNCH

13:30-15:30 PM – B2B and experts meetings

9:45 AM – COFFEE RECEPTION

10:00 AM – Opening remarks

Jean-François GOUMY, International Director, CCI PAYS DE LA LOIRE

10:15 AM - Economic outlook, bilateral relations, national priorities and Canada’s diversification strategy

Omar JANJUA, Head of business services division, Toronto, BUSINESS FRANCE
Samuel GENDREAU-BELANGER, Economic Affairs Officer, EMBASSY OF CANADA IN FRANCE
Jean CHAREST, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1993),
29th Premier of Quebec (2003–2012), Partner, THERRIEN COUTURE JOLICŒUR (TCJ) – video message

10:45 AM – Expertise and local anchoring: key success factors for doing business in Canada, with contributions from legal, tax, banking, immigration and subsidiary management experts

Geneviève GAGNÉ, Partner, International affairs, THERRIEN COUTURE JOLI-CŒUR (TCJ)
Rachelle SORIN, CEO, NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA (Europe Representation Office)
Natacha MIGNON, Immigration lawyer in Canada, IMMETIS
Patrick FERRON, Group Managing Partner, ALTIOS
Martha BREITHAUPT, Partner – Credits & Incentives, BDO

11:30 AM – Company experience sharing and best practices for a sustainable and successful establishment in Canada

Opening of the panel

Nadia CHIBOUTI, Head of International Strategy, NANTES–SAINT-NAZAIRE DEVELOPMENT

Successful establishment models in Québec

Alice FLOURENT, Director, Foreign Direct Investment, France, INVESTISSEMENT QUEBEC INTERNATIONAL

Successful establishment models in Ontario

Pamela KANTER, Advisor (Commercial Affairs – Ontario), EMBASSY OF CANADA IN FRANCE – Digital intervention

Successful establishment models in Saskatchewan

Ranissah SAMAH, Agent-General, SASKATCHEWAN OFFICE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Companies feedback – animated by Jean-François GOUMY, International Director, CCI PAYS DE LA LOIRE

Martin LEBARS, Co-Founder, SINDBAD CONSEIL
Nicolas LEPILLEUR, Director, AGILEDSS
Régis LEGENDRE, President, LUCAS G – Digital intervention

12:15 AM – Q&A and conclusion

12:45 PM – NETWORKING LUNCH

14:00-15:30 PM – B2B and experts meetings

These programmes are provided for information purposes only and are subject to change