France eyes deeper ties with Kuwait at Gulf Vision 2025
PARIS: The third edition of the Gulf Vision 2025 conference officially opened Tuesday in Paris, bringing together officials from Gulf and French governments, alongside business leaders, innovators, and policymakers. The event, held under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to usher in 'a new era of cooperation' between France and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, with Kuwait actively participating through its Embassy in France.
Organized by Business France, the two-day forum is themed 'From Ambitious Visions to Tangible Impact: A New Era of Cooperation.' It serves as a strategic platform to deepen economic ties in the face of global economic transformations and mutual efforts to build more integrated, diversified economies.
Kuwait plays a natural strategic role in this context, said Axel Baroux, Business France's Director for the Near and Middle East, in an interview with KUNA. He noted that Kuwait Vision 2035 aligns closely with France's 2030 Roadmap, highlighting the potential for joint economic transformation. 'The 2025 edition represents a turning point in economic relations between France and the GCC,' he said. 'By linking France 2030 with Gulf visions and transforming dialogue into concrete cooperation and actionable projects.' Baroux emphasized that the event offers direct access for French companies to GCC decision-makers and vice versa, paving the way for long-term, high-impact partnerships. The idea 'is to turn networking into contracts,' he added. The conference also aims to 'serve as a bridge for Gulf capital, including from Kuwait, into Europe.'
A growing economic relationship
According to Baroux, France is currently Kuwait's top European investor and the eighth globally, with major roles in energy, infrastructure, and transport. More than 50 percent of European companies operating in Kuwait are French, collectively employing over 2,100 people. He added that cooperation is expanding into sectors like healthcare, education, services, and green technology, all of which align with Kuwait's economic diversification goals. France is Kuwait's fourth-largest customer and tenth-largest supplier.
The conference's agenda reflects shared priorities, including renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, smart infrastructure, and education. Top French officials attended the conference's opening ceremony, including Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Pascal Cagni, Chairman of the board of Business France. They highlighted the growing need for joint action in energy transition, AI, healthcare, and talent development.
Kuwait projects in focus
For Kuwaiti stakeholders, the event spotlights development opportunities in areas such as airports, ports, solar energy, recycling, AI, vocational education, and smart agriculture. Baroux highlighted health as a sector where France can play a transformative role. 'Kuwait's health sector accounts for 5.1 percent of its GDP and has seen major investments in infrastructure, prevention, and treatment—areas where France has strong technical and industrial expertise,' he said.
Baroux added that Business France provides Kuwaiti companies with specialized advisors to support entry into the French market, offering legal and financial consultation, matchmaking, and links to research centers. Baroux concluded with an invitation to Kuwaiti investors and decision-makers, encouraging them to join 'the ambitious and open economic dialogue' offered by Gulf Vision 2025. 'France is committed to long-term partnerships grounded in innovation and shared development,' he said.
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