Founder of Knowdys Consulting Group and President of the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI), Guy Gweth spoke on 20 October 2023 at the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée in Paris on the subject of the Economic Francophonie, on the invitation of Claude Revel, Director of Skema Publika.

Guy Gweth, head of the programme Doing Business at Centrale Supélec and member of the House of Public Affairs at the University of Paris Dauphine-PSL, came up with a pragmatic and concise approach to boost the economic Francophonie. On this occasion, he pointed out three major aspects:

Firstly, Africa is the future of the Francophonie. This is a mathematical fact: in 2050, it will account for 85% of the 700 million Francophones on the planet. This is a fact that we are forced to acknowledge.

Secondly, from an African standpoint, it is essential for the economic Francophonie to achieve economic integration in terms of economic policies and systems, customs preferences and mobility. Otherwise, disinterest and the risk of losing members (to more integrated blocs) will increase.

Thirdly, Guy Gweth believes that in order to outline the major aspects of such a partnership and minimise interference with its development, the stakeholders (politicians, entrepreneurs and civil society players) will have to define and protect their lowest common denominator, on the initiative of a strategic State.

Guy Gweth is also the founder and coordinator of the Festival de l’intelligence économique francophone (FIEF), the second edition of which will be held on 02 November 2023. It will be held as a prelude to the Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie, scheduled to take place from 3 to 5 November in the Cameroonian capital. Like the previous edition, this event will result in the publication of a white paper entitled ” Doper la compétitivité des territoires francophones “, with a preface by Mr Alamine Mey, Cameroon’s Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development.

The Editor