Bravo #VisionGolfe ! You have become the undisputed B2B event between France and the Gulf Countries. Thanks Business France (Invest in France), Laurent Saint-Martin, Axel B., Miryem - مريم Oukas - وقاص for an incredible organization.
During the panel moderated by Cornelius Matthes with Suliman Almazroua, Safa Sharif A.Khaleq, Bruno Bonnell and Sherif Shawki, CPA (who gave us an update on Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE...and France 2030), I tried to address 4 questions :
1) Are Visions 2030 efficient? 💪
Probably yes, for the most part. For instance, the #France2030 plan is seen as one of the main reasons (along with structural reforms) why France has taken first place in the European competition for foreign investment, particularly in the very sectors on which the 2030 plan focuses: energy, mobility, carbon-free manufacturing, AI.
2) Do they make a difference? 🦓
It depends... on differentiation. In a time of competition between countries to attract high value-added investments, where is the difference when they all have the same fundamental components (sustainability, diversification, innovation,...), massive investment in infrastructure and equally ambitious structural reforms ? That's why they need to focus more on social and societal goals, where they can accentuate the specificity and creativity of individuals behind the corporate structure of the plan.
3) Are these plans sufficiently massive in a period of global trade tensions? 🌍
These plans are mostly national. The "regional" layer comes second. Our latest European attractiveness report shows that Europe's ability to compete vs the US and China, at scale, at pace and with agility is one of the biggest concerns of businesses. And clearly, the panel agreed that the Gulf region needs more integration.
4) Do these 2030 visions engage society at large, not only the business world, but also the population and the many stakeholders of civil society? 🧑🧑🧒
The plans must have the ability to engage everyone, not only globally-minded investors and businesses, but also SMEs, local communities, and most importantly, the population. The small business owner sees over-regulation and the accumulation of costs. The mayor wants to shelter his population and may be reluctant to issue permits, invest in housing, or dedicate land, because of the toll on resources taken by massive infrastructure and manufacturing projects.
To become compelling and really change individual behaviors, Visions 2030 need to emphasize the "now". They must insist on the benefits and the incentives, and not only on the obligations and the regulations. They must focus on the "want to" and not on the "need to". They need to better promote the benefits of immediate action and not the risk or punishing inaction.
Michael Hasbani Anthony O'Sullivan Alain Perroux Paria Al Awadhi Mohamed Mabrouk Les Conseillers du Commerce extérieur de la France Gilles WIDAWSKI Sophie Sidos Gael Estublier Marie-Cécile Tardieu
