From March 30 to April 1, 2026, a delegation of 50 French companies took part in a three-day immersion into the Guinean market, engaging in a structured program : high-level meetings, business matchmaking sessions, sector-focused discussions and site visits.  

A High-Level Guinea-France Business Forum 

A key highlight of the Parcours Business International was the Guinea–France Business Forum, held on March 31 in Conakry, which gathered over 1,000 participants, including senior public officials and private sector leaders. 

The Forum featured opening remarks by: 

• Ismaël Nabé, Minister of Planning, International Cooperation and Development 
• Luc Briard, Ambassador of France to Guinea and Sierra Leone 
• H.E. Amadou Oury Bah, Prime Minister of Guinea 

Their presence underscored the strong political commitment to fostering long-term economic cooperation and private investment between the two countries, as a shared ambition to position French companies within Guinea’s ongoing economic transformation 

The event provided a platform to present the Simandou 2040 plan, a large-scale development program designed to structure Guinea’s economic transformation over the next 15 years.  

Christophe Plastre, Head of West Africa, Bpifrance said : “We are seeing a remarkable surge of energy, closely aligned with the current momentum of the economy. This makes it a pivotal moment to establish a presence in the Republic of Guinea and seize emerging economic opportunities.” 

Driving Transformation Through Strategic Sector Investment 

Guinea is increasingly positioning itself as one of the most dynamic markets in West Africa, driven by the Simandou 2040 program, which structures the country’s transformation around 122 projects and 36 major reforms.  

As Thierry Martignon, Director of Solutions, Bpifrance Assurance Export : “Africa is a land of opportunity for French companies. There is a great deal happening in infrastructure and energy, and the country is driven by an exceptionally dynamic youth. I believe it is essential to seize the opportunities Africa has to offer — because if we don’t, others will.” 

That’s what is seeking Avento, a French company delivering renewable energy as emphasized by Djaji Touré, Director Africa’s development : “Today, more and more entrepreneurs are turning their attention to Guinea, drawn by its remarkable dynamism. Growth naturally brings energy, and we aim to support this emergence by providing French green energy solutions.” 

Significant opportunities are emerging through large-scale infrastructure investments, particularly in rail, ports and logistics corridors as well as in energy, agriculture, digital transformation, education, healthcare and urban development.  

According to Aguibou Ly, Managing Director, IBS Guinea : “Within the mining sector, the mobilization of both technical and organizational expertise is of paramount importance. France has consistently been considered a major repository of such expertise and capabilities.”  

Mobilizing the Private Sector Around Simandou 2040 

A clear message emerged : the success of Simandou 2040 will ultimately depend on the private sector’s ability not only to invest, but also to structure value chains, foster innovation and drive skills transfer at scale. The goal here is to enable entrepreneurs to develop a thorough understanding of the local environment, to fully engage with local stakeholders, and to refrain from applying rigid, pre-determined solutions in the future. 

As Thierno Ibrahima Diallo, Managing Director at AFG Bank Guinea said : “Simandou 2040 embodies a powerful catalyst, in every sense of the word. The financial sector needs to step up because Guinea’s key indicators speak for themselves. Across Africa, there’s a real sense of vibrancy, a drive to move forward and to deliver. And this is happening on the basis of clear, practical and trust-based partnerships. 

Furthermore, Salimatou Diallo, Managing Partner at ADNA, stressed the magnitude of Simandou 2040 on the Guinean economy : “Simandou 2040 stands as a transformative initiative for Guinea. It is expected to open up the country’s economy through the development of critical infrastructure, including a 650-kilometre railway and a connected multi-user port capable of handling both passenger and freight traffic” 

Unlocking concrete business opportunities  

More than 450 qualified B2B meetings were organized, enabling direct exchanges between French companies and Guinean public and private stakeholders. 

Guillaume Hardouin, Managing Director at EMO identified several opportunities :  “This has proven to be an effective and successful mission, allowing us to meet key stakeholders on the ground. The B2B meetings facilitated through this Bpifrance program clearly highlight the strong interest in entering the Guinean market.” 

“Thanks to this Parcours Business International, I established new connections, notably with partners from beyond Guinea. This Bpifrance parcours is a must-do if you want to invest in Guinea” said Vincent Favier, CEO of Ecoslops, a company specialized in oil waste recycling.  

Moreover, the launch of the Afrique France Entrepreneurs community during the Forum further reinforced the objective of structuring a sustainable Franco-Guinean business ecosystem. 

Anne-Marème Atayi, International Affairs officer at EuroQuity highlights that : “This initiative is fostering a new form of peer-to-peer cooperation, driven by the co-definition of strategies between French and local stakeholders, and by a strong dynamic of co-construction and co-industrialisation between French and African entrepreneurs – all built on a shared fondation of expertise.” 

Strengthening Long-Term Franco-Guinean Cooperation 

Altogether, Guinea offers a unique landscape of opportunities for international companies, supported by its strategic position in West Africa and a strong political commitment to building long-term partnerships under the Simandou 2040 framework. 

Bpifrance’s objective is not only to support French companies in their international expansion but also to contribute to Guinea’s economic transformation through sustainable and mutually beneficial projects.  As shared by Thierno Amadou Berthe, Deputy CEO and Chief Risk Officer at Ecobank  : “Our strongest ambition is not for this project to become an economic enclave, but rather a driver of growth that spreads across the entire economy.” 

Bpifrance’s will is not merely to foster exchanges, but to identify concrete projects with a view to their implementation by the end of 2026. 

Thanks to our partners Ecobank Guinée / SaH Analytics International / ADNA / AFG Bank Guinée / Affic Group / Africa Global Logistics / Business France 

Key insights from the forum’s speakers and members of Bpifrance’s delegation are available through a series of dedicated video capsules, click here to see them.