FrancoTech and the Francophone economic space: create, innovate and conduct business in French!

On October 3 and 4, 2024, on the sidelines of the 19th Francophonie Summit, in Villers-Cotterêts (Hauts de France region) that France is jointly organizing with the International Organization of La Francophonie, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs will launch FrancoTech, a new trade fair for innovation held entirely in French.

The General Secretariat of the Francophonie Summit has entrusted its organization to Business France, which is working in close partnership with the Alliance of Francophone Employers. The event, which will reflect the Summit’s theme “Create, innovate and conduct business in French”, will be held in Paris at Station F, the largest startup campus in the world.

It will bring together more than 1,500 participants from the French-speaking world, from more than 100 countries from every continent for business meetings. FrancoTech will also feature more than 150 exhibitors, around a hundred entrepreneurs competing for one of the three “FrancoTech 2024 Innovation Awards”, as well as around fifty high-level speakers, including entrepreneurs, civil society stakeholders and representatives of local authorities.

The show will explore a number of themes (artificial intelligence, digital trust, food safety, transport/logistics, education, funding of innovation), with participants able to meet customers, suppliers and partners, promote their solutions and discover the latest innovations from the French-speaking network. They will also debate current strategic issues, with the French language as a common good and the desire to build lasting partnerships.

The aim is also to boost commercial exchanges and economic flows within the French-speaking network, promoting and sharing innovative offers, services, products and models, as well as the entrepreneurial successes of the French-speaking world.

FrancoTech is not just a prestigious one-off event: it is the first in a series of initiatives aiming to develop a modern, innovative and inclusive Francophone economic space, while respecting its diversity.

“FrancoTech is a unique opportunity to strengthen economic ties within the French-speaking world. We’re determined at Business France to promote French-speaking innovations and entrepreneurial successes. This event will enable us to boost trade and build lasting partnerships, both of which are essential for dealing with the current economic and societal challenges.” 

Laurent Saint-Martin, Chief Executive Officer at Business France

“Let us mobilize our forces to promote the French language as a generator of economic opportunities, a facilitator of business networks and a project accelerator for businesses. I look forward to meeting entrepreneurs, startups, project leaders and French-speaking talent at this unique event. Join us and make FrancoTech a resounding success!”

Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, President of the Alliance of Francophone Employers