Afrique-France Entrepreneurs: first year review and challenges

By Mérième Alaoui,

in Paris The idea was born at the end of the new Africa-France summit in Montpellier, between African entrepreneurs and French tech, championed by the President of the Republic himself, Emmanuel Macron. Alongside this initiative, the main players in the French economy have reorganized themselves to work together. « This alignment of players, namely Expertise France, AFD-Proparco, Business France and Digital Africa, is historic. We hope that this collaboration between French and African partners will be the first major milestone in the Franco-African partnership, » explains Stéphane Allou, Head of Finance and Administration, Digital Africa, part of Proparco.

The aim is to bring together, via an online platform, the members of a new « community » made up, on the one hand, of these French players and their network of around 300 entrepreneurs from their portfolios. On the other hand, African entrepreneurs and local partners. In concrete terms, the idea is to organize networking through exchange sessions and other sector-specific webinars every three weeks, or even matchmaking. The aim is to link the two ecosystems in the long term. To date, the platform has established contact points in 44 African countries.

Exchanges between African and French entrepreneurs have revealed a number of criticisms, or rather needs, on the part of the Africans. For example, we noticed a lack of readability

« At Business France, we’re a bit like matchmakers, the Meetic of exports, because we put entrepreneurs in touch with each other in a qualified way to develop their business, thanks to our 13 African teams who know the local network and therefore the opportunities to connect them with French companies. Our network of 200 chargé d’affaires in France covers 20,000 companies, » says Michel Bauza, Business France’s director for North Africa.

This organized approach is also the result of several assessments. And a series of frank discussions. « Exchanges between African and French entrepreneurs have led to a number of criticisms, or rather needs, identified by the Africans. For example, we noticed a lack of clarity: we’re often asked ‘who does what’, » explains Ann-Marème Atayi, Project Manager for African-French entrepreneurs at the BPI France and moderator of the structure’s debriefing session. To overcome this shortcoming, the platform’s main objective is to make the financing and support process easier to understand at all levels. Stephane Allou explains the role of Digital Africa: « Our mission is to support African digital players in their ability to develop and deploy digital tools for the real economy. In concrete terms, we finance projects from the early stages ». Proparco, on the other hand, finances companies that are already more established, so this financing milestone was missing. We fill this gap with investment vouchers ranging from €20,000 to €500,000, » he explains.

Pan-African financing is also being considered in several countries. « The idea is to co-construct with African stakeholders, because it’s all about sustainability

To facilitate this visibility from an African perspective, local relays need to be developed. The network has thus mobilized the various communities through embassies, affiliated business clubs, but also the networks of initiatives such as French Tech, Meet Africa, Choose Africa or the various accelerators on the continent. « In each country, we have identified partners: business incubators, chambers of commerce, public investment agencies, employers’ organizations, etc., » explains Habiba Addi, head of entrepreneurship programs at Expertise France. But we still need to build relationships with institutions. This is the specific role of Expertise France, the French operator responsible for implementing the projects.

« We are the operational side of the cooperation. In Africa, we intervene at state level, at the level of public policy in each country. Before that, we have to identify development needs. For example, we supported the Startup Act in Tunisia and are currently doing the same in Senegal, » Habiba Addi continues. In addition to identifying needs and solutions, we need to intervene at the level of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, i.e. financing policies. « For example, we have introduced funds of honor loans or repayable advances. Pan-African financing is also being considered in several countries. « In each case, the idea is to co-construct with African stakeholders, because it’s all about sustainability, » adds the head of Expertise France.

All these local partnerships are symbolized by the launch of the initiative in capitals such as Nairobi, Abidjan and Casablanca, and soon in Johannesburg, Accra and Lomé, among others.

For an African investor interested in Europe, we have the capacity to roll out the red carpet and help them invest in France with incubators

French financial players are all the more confident in their desire to go further. « To project as many French entrepreneurs as possible throughout the world and in Africa, which is the continent of the 21st century, » explains Michel Bauza. He goes on to announce the creation of a fund managed by the BPI, « 100 million euros, launched by the President of the Republic at the Marseille Mediterranean Forum, to facilitate the projects of French companies, particularly those of the diaspora, in North Africa. It’s clear that in the current context of migration, it’s important to create value and jobs ».

« But when we talk about co-development, it goes both ways. From Europe to Africa, but also from Africa to the EU, which is the biggest market in the world. If an African investor is interested in Europe, we have the capacity to roll out the red carpet and help them invest in France through business incubators, » adds Business France’s North Africa director.

He goes on to announce the multiplication of forums on the theme of France 2030, a reminder of the country’s ambition to promote decarbonization, energy transition and the knowledge economy. « It’s up to us to be smart and inclusive enough to bring together all the players who can offer something to the community of French and African entrepreneurs, » he warns.

Find out more, visit : https://www.euroquity.com/fr/communaute/afrique-france-entrepreneurs