Event report
The Nairobi French Week!
The French Chamber of Commerce Launches Nairobi French Week!
We are thrilled to have inaugurated the First Edition of Nairobi French Week today Monday, November 2023 which was officially launched by Nairobi governor Honorable Johnson Arthur Sakaja.
With a key address from Mr. Lionel Fabre, Deputy Head of Mission, French Embassy, highlighting the commendable efforts of H.E. Johnson Sakaja in fortifying the ties between Kenya and France. Our Chairman Othmane Chaoui gave more details about this pivotal initiative that elevates cooperation between Kenya and France. The French Week promises to provide an exclusive platform for businesses, fostering partnerships across diverse economic sectors in Kenya and France.
In his address, our guest of honor H.E. Johnson Sakaja, Governor of Nairobi City County,
extended his gratitude for the French Government's support in the school feeding program aimed at stopping hunger and keeping children in school in the Nairobi Metropolitan area. He also addressed critical challenges facing Nairobi, from congestion to pollution, and commended the joint efforts aimed at resolution and curbing of these problems.
Embracing France as an active role, he advocated for collaborative endeavors in both Anglophone and Francophone nations and concluded by reminding the French business community to consider him as a friend and partner.
Our first panel discussion of the day was moderated by Mathieu Ecoiffier, Regional Counsellor for Sustainable Development East Africa and the Indian Ocean at the French Embassy, with panelists tackling questions on urban public transportation, planning, governance, and financing, that is de-congestion of Nairobi, reduction of pollution and provision of an affordable transport system.
Panelists:
Mathieu Ecoiffier, Regional Counsellor for Sustainable Development East Africa and the Indian Ocean, French Embassy
Panelists:
🔸Linda Rotich, Deputy Director, EGIS East Africa
🔸Anthea Manasseh, Deputy Country Manager, AFD
🔸Francis Gitau, Director General, Namata
The second panel discussion was spearheaded by Martha Mbugua, Partner at CDH, on the future of e-mobility, challenges, and opportunities that incentives and policies from the government be aligned with the needs of the private sector in order for e-mobility to develop in a large scale. This includes investing in infrastructure and charging stations for e-vehicles.
Panelists:
🔸Jason GRAS, Co-founder & CEO at STIMA BODA
🔸Romain Petiteau, Head of Energy &Charging at Roam
🔸Diane Yakovlev, Investment Associate at E3 Capital (formerly Energy Access Ventures)
🔸Jean-Christian Bergeron, CEO of East Africa at Rubis Energy
🔹Moderator: Mathieu Ecoiffier, Regional Counsellor for Sustainable Development East Africa and the Indian Ocean at Direction générale du Trésor.
We ended our first day with closing remarks from Jerome Baconin, Head of the Regional
Economic Department of the French Embassy, who advocated for enhanced cooperation
between France and Kenya.
Our Executive Director Laure Paugam closed the event. She thanked all panelists, speakers,
moderators and guests for their support.
A major mention goes to our sponsors who enabled this event to happen.
Special Thanks to Our Partners and Sponsors!
Africa Global Logistics *CFAO * Mercure Hotels *Pernod Ricard *EDF* RentCo *PKF *EY* Mazars* Bureau Veritas * bpifrance *Business France * LA French Tech *French Embassy*
