French business leaders say they want to learn and unlearn ways of dealing with African markets. And they are using the Africa Forward Summit to directly discuss with partners across the continent what needs to change about doing business.
Business France, the agency that lobbies for French companies abroad, said they have arranged some 800 bilateral meetings between French and African firms, seeking to understand market dynamics, as well as investment opportunities.
Louis Margueritte, the CEO of Business France, said the French private sector is using the Summit to build new relationships in Africa. They are also hunting for potential investors in France, he said.
“It is more a question of making relationships between French companies and investors stronger. We are here to support all kinds of business initiatives,” Mr Margueritte told a media briefing in Nairobi on Sunday.
As part of the Summit, co-hosted by Kenya and France, there will be a business forum involving some 1,500 participants, including African and French business leaders, to discuss the African enterprise opportunities as well as participation of young entrepreneurs. There will also be plenary sessions on green industrialisation, peace and security, and global financial architecture. to be addressed by Heads of State and Government, as well as around 30 leading CEOs from Africa and France.
The French business leaders, however, say they are keen to learn how to tap into the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCTA), which Africa intends to use to boost intra-Africa trade.
“There are a lot of intra-African exchanges that are happening. We are building relations with companies from different countries to establish a stronger relationship,” said Robert Kiarie, a Senior Trade Adviser on Industry and Cleantech in sub-Saharan Africa at Business France.
According to the French firms, they are using the Summit to also learn from peers about “how exactly the market works” even as they ride on the political influence of their country.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenya's President William Ruto address a joint press conference, in Nairobi on May 10, 2026.
Photo credit: Monicah Mwangi | Reuters
“It is not just a matter of political influence. We also invest in learning about political realities,” Margueritte added.
“Being here means we can increase our capacity to run sustainable businesses that are beneficial for both sides.”
Kenya, especially, has partnered with France for decades and is home to over 150 French companies that have employed hundreds of locals and improved innovation in various sectors.
And France is expanding its investment from traditional sectors into digital innovation, AI, and green energy, with French FDI in Kenya tripling over the past decade.
France has invested heavily, $618million (€525 million, KSh79.9 billion) over the past decade, in Kenya's green energy projects: wind and solar infrastructure, including a water treatment plant at the Kigoro plant and urban transport.
The summit is seen as signalling a shift towards broader continental inclusivity and a redefinition of Africa–France relations that had initially been based on defence and security terms.
An official summit brief of the Summit said the forum seeks to promote a new partnership framework based on mutual benefit, shared responsibility and African-led priorities. Discussions will focus on economic transformation, reform of the global financial architecture, climate financing, digital innovation, food systems, health sovereignty, and peace and security.
Overall, France’s economic history in Africa has been punctuated by political misdeeds under the infamous policy of Francafrique, which even Paris admits today. But it has also heavily invested in Africa to maintain its geopolitical influence, secure economic interests, especially in critical minerals and energy, and counter the rising presence of rivals like China, Russia, and Turkey.
In a bid to reset its economic diplomacy in Africa, France has focused on engagement around investment, impact, solidarity and what its foreign office calls ‘balanced partnerships’.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressing the press in Nairobi on May 10, 2026.
Photo credit: Monicah Mwangi | Reuters
As of May 2026, France's foreign direct investment (FDI) stock in Africa is estimated at $70 billion to $80 billion (at €60 billion to €68 billion).
France's most significant investment focus in Africa is a strategic, multi-sector push toward green industrialisation, energy transition, and digital infrastructure, which are also discussion points of the Summit.
Key initiatives include €1.8 billion in Kenyan energy and sustainability projects, major LNG/oil projects by TotalEnergies (Uganda/Mozambique), and supporting digital, health, and blue economy sectors across the continents. France is one of the largest foreign investors in South Africa, with 30 companies operating in South Africa.
