Gone is the outdated relationship that linked France to the highest public authorities in the former colonies. It is time for Europe, for co-construction, for the private sector and for African civil societies. France is embarking on the path of a European-African commercial dynamic

Franck Riester, French Minister of Commerce and Attractiveness is banking on a renewed and expanded partnership with English-speaking countries, to support the presidential ambition of a “New Deal” with Africa. In an interview with the Tribune Afrique, he outlines the new commercial strategy. “Competition exists, of course, but I am convinced that the French offer is distinguished by its quality. We are determined to profoundly renew France's image in Africa. This is the reason why, as early as 2017, in Ouagadougou, the President affirmed the ambition to rebuild the Africa-France relationship. Four years later, by organizing the Summit for the Financing of African Economies, in Paris on May 18, France was at the forefront of finding, together with African states, international organizations and major international donors, ways and means to ensure debt sustainability, to continue to invest in infrastructure despite the pandemic and to support the financing of the African private sector,” he explained.

According to him, it's not just about capitalizing on proximity to French-speaking Africa. It is also a question of going further in economic relations with the countries of English-speaking Africa. France, which will soon be chairing the Council of the European Union, wishes to make the Africa-EU relationship a key issue during its presidency. This is the main reason for supporting the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will eventually establish a genuine African domestic market. Several tools have already been launched, including the Bpifrance Africa Accelerator, Business France, the Export Recovery Plan, to name but a few