The Forum d’Amérique Latine 2024, held in the historical Parisian venue of the French Senate on October 11th and online on October 14th, brought together French and Latin American leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations aiming to foster robust business connections between the two regions. Organized by Business France, the event saw the participation of our partner Expertise France and provided a strategic opportunity for corporations, startups, and public entities to engage in dialogue, set up collaborations, and discuss the road ahead for international partnerships.
With the upcoming Investor Roadshow in Peru and Mexico, the meeting also served as a valuable preparatory opportunity for French companies looking to expand their footprint in Latin America.
The Forum’s first day focused on high-impact sectors and collaborative opportunities. Opening remarks by Senate and Business France officials set the tone for the event, emphasizing economic partnership. The day’s agenda covered economic perspectives on Latin America, growth opportunities, and sector-specific discussions. Highlights included sessions on renewable energy, addressing Latin America’s role as a key player in global energy transition, and healthcare, where discussions tackled the dual challenge of chronic and infectious diseases alongside population aging. Sustainable urban infrastructure, consumer trends, and digital innovation rounded out the day, providing a comprehensive view of areas ripe for Franco-Latin collaboration.
The Forum also featured targeted B2B meetings, providing participants with insights on local connections and strategies for entering Latin American markets. Our colleague Clément Lafargue, working in Open Innovation and Corporate Venturing at Expertise France, took part in several sessions focusing on sectors like medical devices, agriculture, and consulting, with French and Latin American representatives exchanging expertise and planning future collaborations.
Highlights included meetings with Marc Antoine Lopez of Business France who provided strategic contacts within Latin America, including BPI Mexico and CCE (Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur). Olivier Pradet from Business France Mexico discussed the logistics for a November meeting in Mexico, while Claudia Dangillaume from MediPrema represented the Peruvian medical devices sector, highlighting healthcare collaboration opportunities.
Other meetings that Clément held included Geraldina Slaton from the Chambre Economique du Mexique en France, offering a network of Mexican corporates in France, and Carlos Aujoro from EUROLATAM Link, whose consulting expertise bridges businesses across continents. Additionally, Claudia de Oliveira Ramos of Vegepolys Valley presented a cluster of firms within the vegetal industry, fostering agricultural sector connections.
Further meetings with entities representatives like Florent Houssais from CCE / EFE, Aurélia Pouget of Labaronnne CITAF and Arthur Gouin from BPI Mexico reinforced the Forum’s goal of building sustainable and mutually beneficial Franco-Latin American business relationships. Representatives of Busines France Latin America including Nasser El Mamoune (Brazil), Dominique Boutter (Chile), Olivier Pradet (Mexico), and Pierre Ramirez (Colombia), were also on hand, furthering regional connections and aligning strategic growth plans across Latin America.
This year’s Forum underscored the commitment of both regions to fostering sustainable business growth and innovation. By establishing a collaborative network and actionable steps for engagement, the Forum d’Amérique Latine 2024 has set the stage for a dynamic and mutually beneficial Franco-Latin American business ecosystem.