France and the Gulf Cooperation Council states will meet in Paris on June 18 and 19 June for Vision Golfe, a high-level forum designed to accelerate trade, investment and strategic cooperation between the two regions.
Organised by Business France, the fourth edition of Vision Golfe will bring together ministers and senior public and private business leaders at the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.
Held under the High Patronage of President Emmanuel Macron, the forum reflects the growing institutional weight of France’s engagement with Gulf partners, as both sides pursue economic resilience, strategic autonomy and long-horizon cooperation.
Proven track record in driving opportunities
Over successive editions, Vision Golfe has mirrored the deepening of France–GCC economic ties and the shift toward a more shift toward a results-driven partnership model, anchored in co-investment, industrial collaboration and joint innovation. The latest edition brought together more than 1,250 participants and generated over 2,000 targeted B2B meetings, highlighting strong demand for curated access that converts high-level dialogue into actionable project pipelines.
Framed by the 2026 theme, “From Cooperation to Transformation,” the forum will spotlight where French industrial capabilities and innovation align with Gulf diversification strategies, technology leadership ambitions and lower-carbon growth agendas.
A growing economic corridor
Trade relations between France and the Gulf states continue to gain momentum, underpinned by strong mutual confidence and a shared commitment to long-term economic growth. In 2025, bilateral trade between France and the United Arab Emirates alone reached €10.8 billion, marking a sharp 27% year-on-year increase. At the regional level, trade between France and the GCC amounted to €24.9 billion, according to French customs data, driven by robust exchanges with Saudi Arabia with €8.2 billion, Kuwait with €3.3 billion, Qatar with €1.7 billion, Oman with €0.4 billion and Bahrain with €0.5 billion. These figures reflect the depth of economic ties between France and the Gulf and point to significant untapped potential for the next phase of partnership, investment and industrial cooperation.
Responding to changing global business landscape
Vision Golfe 2026 takes place in a moment when geopolitics is no longer a backdrop to commerce, but a direct input into economic decision-making, from export controls and investment screening to industrial policy and supply-chain security. In this environment, the France–GCC relationship is increasingly positioned as complementary and action-oriented. Gulf partners bring scale, rapid execution and an ambition to lead in adopting new technologies and services, while France contributes deep industrial know-how, engineering capacity, regulatory standards and established links into European markets.
“In a world where inaction is the enemy of growth, Vision Golfe 2026 drives tangible progress. It brings together the right minds to catalyze initiatives, mobilize investments, and generate impact that can be measured, not just discussed. Against the backdrop of today’s complex global and regional circumstances, organizing this 4th edition is both a priority and a must-attend forum. France and the GCC are structuring collaboration around tangible economic indicators, anticipating market shifts, and advancing projects that reinforce regional and global competitiveness. The themes and discussions at the event are expected to give rise to concrete strategies, actionable partnerships, and new initiatives that will redefine the economic landscape in the months and years ahead.” stated Axel Baroux, Business France Near & Middle East Director.
Strategic sectors
Accordingly, the agenda will prioritise sectors at the centre of both regions’ policy playbooks: artificial intelligence, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, smart mobility, healthcare systems, sustainable urban development and more. These priorities reflect a broader shift in global economic diplomacy, where partnerships are increasingly assessed by their ability to deliver measurable outcomes investment, projects and jobs rather than statements of intent. Running through these themes is security in its broadest sense, connecting critical infrastructure and industrial security with supply-chain resilience, food security, and strategic systems such as water and desalination. The discussion also extends to the ports, maritime corridors and rail and logistics links that keep trade and investment moving.
Next phase of France–GCC cooperation
Built around delivery, Vision Golfe combines curated discussion panels, B2B and B2G meetings with high level networking, including the “French Gulf Night” reception at Palais Galliera, to accelerate decision making and project structuring. Under the 2026 theme, “From Cooperation to Transformation,” it channels strategic alignment into bankable partnerships, investments and projects across the France GCC corridor. – TradeArabia News Service
