OIF: business mission in North Africa to step up exchanges between Francophones

The International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) is organizing a business prospection mission in North Africa, in Egypt and Morocco. The aim is to explore new markets and develop North-South and South-South business contacts.

By the editorial staff

The International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) is organizing a business prospection mission to North Africa, Egypt and Morocco, as well as a regional workshop on banking and international trade finance in Africa.

Led by the OIF Administrator, Geoffroi Montpetit, on behalf of the Secretary General of the Francophonie, the mission will unfold in two phases. The first, in Cairo from February 6 to 7, 2023 and the second in Casablanca from February 8 to 9, 2023.

Egypt and Morocco, two of Africa’s most industrialized countries

More than 100 local companies and around 50 businesses and economic players from about 20 French-speaking countries are participating in the initiative. Through a tailor-made program (economic forums, business meetings, company visits and networking evenings), the mission aims to explore new markets and develop North-South, South-South and triangular business contacts in three sectors: agribusiness, renewable energy and digital goods and services in Egypt and Morocco, two of the most industrialized countries on the African continent by 2022 according to the AfDB.

The Casablanca stage will be followed by a regional workshop on banking transactions and international trade finance in Africa, to be held on February 10, 2023. « This workshop will mobilize public and private Francophone and international actors to find solutions to the difficulties encountered by companies wishing to expand internationally: prohibitive rates and long processing times for their financial transactions, as well as the high cost of financing their international growth, » the institution said in a statement.

Looking ahead to future business and trade missions planned by OIF 

In addition, this prospecting mission to North Africa will allow participating and interested companies to look ahead to business and trade missions that the OIF plans to organize in Greece and Lebanon in June 2023 and in Quebec (Montreal) and Ontario (Toronto) in the spring of 2024.

As part of the implementation of the Economic Strategy for La Francophonie (2020-2025), the OIF has been organizing plurilateral economic and trade missions since 2022 to help increase trade and investment between its 88 member countries and governments.

Find out more: www.francophonie.org