Big 2026

International :
thematic path

All sessions for companies and actors engaged internationally

Salles de conférence

Hours

From

To

Clear all filters

Introduction to Agora Horizon

An introduction characterised by boldness: daring to invest in, support and accelerate the changes needed to nurture the champions of tomorrow.

Isabelle Bébéar

BpifranceDirectrice des affaires internationales et européennes

9:45 AM10:00 AM

Opening session with Bruno Baratz

Join Bruno Baratz, Lieutenant General and Commander of Future Combat, as he opens the Globe, the stage dedicated to international affairs.

Commandant du combat futurGénéral de corps d'armée

TV5 MondeJournaliste chroniqueuse économique

9:50 AM10:20 AM

India: Europe’s New Competitor?

This workshop sheds light on the major developments that are reshaping India’s trajectory in 2026. The country is strengthening its strategic partnerships, establishing itself as a hub for...

Solene d'Alcantara

BpifranceResponsable développement export

AltiosDirecteur Developpement

PELLENC STDirecteur Segment Plastiques

VERNETCIDO (Chief Information & Digital Officer)

10:00 AM10:10 AM

After Africa Forward I Inspire & Connect : Turning Dialogue into Business

On 11 May 2026 in Nairobi, Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect brought together more than 6,000 entrepreneurs, investors and decision-makers from over 40 countries, alongside 300+ high-level...

BpifranceDirecteur Afrique

Shoreline Energy InternationalGroup Managing Director/CEO

Ministère de l'europe et des affaires étrangèresDirecteur d'Afrique et de l'océan Indien

AGORA PROJECTION

10:00 AM10:15 AM

Introduction – Exploring New Growth Markets with Team France Export

Would you like to accelerate your international expansion? Come and meet the founding members of Team France Export, Bpifrance, Business France and CCI France, who are dedicated to supporting...

CCI FranceDirecteur général

Cécile Hautefort-Hegazy

Business FranceDirectrice commerciale

Groupe VicatPrésidente des Conseillers du Commerce extérieur de la France et Vice-présidente de la holding

Vincent Toussaint

Agence française de développement (AFD)Directeur exécutif adjoint de la Mobilisation, partenariats & communication

Olivier Vincent

BpifranceDirecteur Exécutif

10:10 AM10:30 AM

Financing Europe’s Strategic Autonomy: Dual-Use and Defence Investments and financing

How can Europe scale up investment in defence and dual-use technologies? In a context of growing geopolitical tensions, this session will explore the financial mechanisms, policy frameworks and...

Grégoire CHAUVIERE LE DRIAN

European Investment Bank (EIB)Senior Strategy Officer

Christian DUBARRY

BpifranceDirecteur Europe

Michiel Scheffer

EICPresident du Board

10:30 AM11:00 AM

Security & Development: helping to build international industrial partnerships in the defence and...

How can we move from a primarily operational form of cooperation to an integrated Defence–Diplomacy–Development (3D) approach, in which industry (manufacturing, maintenance, training and innovation)...

BpifranceRegional Manager l Eastern/Southern Africa & Indian Ocean

Laurence DE TOUCHET

Business FranceDirectrice des programmes export

Clément Requier

GICATExport and European partnerships Director

Stéphane Richou

11:00 AM11:10 AM

Developing French industry on the international stage: a team effort!

International expansion is a team effort. Drawing on 12 years’ experience living abroad in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, François-Xavier Kowandy shares his insights on inter-company cooperation as...

François-Xavier Kowandy

Software RépubliqueDirecteur de l'innovation

11:00 AM11:45 AM

EU–India free trade agreement: what opportunities for French manufacturers?

The free trade agreement between the European Union and India opens up a new playing field for French manufacturers. In a rapidly growing market that is increasingly integrated into global value...

Beena PARADIN MIGOTTO

AmiritaFondatrice

ESPACE INVESTIR

11:05 AM11:35 AM

Before investing, understand the defence market

Investing in French defence means supporting the companies within our Defence Industrial and Technological Base (BITD), which are developing activities that have a significant impact on society:...

Nathalie GRIMBERT

DGASous directrice protection et résilience des entreprises

Stanislas LEFORT

BpifranceChef de programmes Accélérateur Défense

Cédric LOWENBACH

BpifranceRéférent Défense Bpifrance

AGORA PROJECTION

11:05 AM11:35 AM

French exporters: how can you win over and retain international buyers?

What mechanisms are currently in place to streamline the relationship between several French exporters and a foreign buyer, whilst encouraging the development of new contracts? Discover an...

Laurent BIDDISCOMBE

Agence française de développement (AFD)Directeur exécutif Solutions Développement Durable

SUEZDirectrice Trade & Export Finance

Philippe Matière

11:10 AM11:30 AM

Economic agreement: a key for French industry – a closer look at the EU-Mercosur agreement

Latin America is no longer merely a sphere of influence: it is establishing itself as a sovereign economic power. Against a backdrop of tensions between the United States and China, the region is...

Nicolas FORISSIER

Ministre déléguée chargée du Commerce Extérieur et de l'Attractivité de la France

Patricia Frutos Ruiz

Ministère des Affaires Etrangères du ParaguayVice-Ministre en charge des Relations Economiques et de l'Intégration

BpifranceHead‑ Latin America & the Caribbean

11:10 AM11:40 AM

European Defence Alliance - Supporting the development of dual-use technologies internationally

Through the European Defence Alliance, this roundtable examines European strategies for developing, financing, and promoting dual-use technologies internationally by bringing together industry,...

BpifranceHead of Operations at Euroquity

Panagiotis Papageorgiou

Hellenic Centre for Defence InnovationExecutive Board Member at HCDI

11:30 AM12:00 PM

After Africa Forward: Mauritius and Guinea – two models for investing in the Africa of tomorrow

Following Africa Forward Inspire & Connect in Nairobi, and at a time when Mauritius is strengthening its position as a regional financial hub and Guinea is accelerating its transformation through...

Isabelle Aimonetti

Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur de la FrancePrésidente de la commission Afrique

Éléonore Caroit

Ministre déléguée chargée de la Francophonie, des Partenariats internationaux et des Français de l’étranger

El Hadji Ibrahima Mané

République du SénégalDirecteur Général de la Coopération, des Financements extérieurs, du Développement du Secteur privé au sein du Ministère de l’Economie, du Plan et de la Coopération

Rogers CapitalCEO

11:50 AM12:20 PM

The United States in 2026: what opportunities lie ahead in a changing economic landscape?

In a rapidly changing US economic landscape, what opportunities are there for French companies? This round-table discussion will combine a macroeconomic analysis of the United States with a...

José Agustin Cedeño

BpifranceResponsable développement export

Stéphane COLLIAC

BNP ParibasResponsable Economies Avancées

Alex Lhéritier

Koaloo FiFondateur & Directeur

12:00 PM12:20 PM

Decarbonised maritime transport: innovation, challenges and opportunities

How can we rethink maritime transport to meet the challenges of the future? Drawing on the experience of Neoline, which operates the world’s largest sailing cargo ship, discover how innovation can...

Madeleine Poulin Poirier

NeolineResponsable Commerciale

Bpifrance Assurance ExportResponsable Assurance Export - Domaine Naval Spatial Terrestre

12:20 PM12:50 PM

Metals diplomacy: how can we secure access to strategic resources?

The energy transition and geopolitical tensions are increasing pressure on access to critical metals that are essential for low-carbon technologies. An analysis of the challenges of ‘metals...

BpifranceResponsable Risques Export - Bpifrance Assurance Export

InfraVia Capital PartnersAssocié

Caroline Vailhé

SolvayHead of Raw Material Sourcing - Rare Earths

AGORA PROJECTION

12:25 PM12:55 PM

What if, in 2028, you could set up your European start-up in 48 hours?

A proposed piece of EU legislation could enable pan-European companies to be registered within 48 hours. This session examines the implications of this major reform, the opportunities it presents...

CinqCStrategist specialising in AI, emerging technologies and digital sovereignty, and founder

Kristiina Kalda

EISHead of the e-Residency Program in France

Julien Mouyeket

BOLTRegional General Manager Western and Southern Europe

12:30 PM1:00 PM

Paraguay: What Investment Opportunities in a Growing Economy?

The workshop aims to highlight Paraguay’s economic potential and its key strengths within South America, particularly by emphasizing the strategic sectors of renewable energy and forestry, which are...

Eduardo Gustale

REDIEXVice ministre en charge des investissements et des exportations

BpifranceChargée de Développement Export Amériques

BpifranceEconomiste Amérique latine

Frédéric Schriqui

NGEDirecteur des Amériques

12:30 PM1:00 PM

Venturing out into the world: the V.I.E programme – the first step towards international growth

Many French companies aspire to expand internationally, but are still hesitant to take the plunge. A lack of resources, a lack of understanding of the markets, and difficulty in identifying the...

Stéphane ALISSE

Business FranceDirecteur du programme V.I.E

Journaliste et modératrice

Etienne DE BETTIGNIES

ONIS LINE BLINDPrésident

AGORA PROJECTION

Skills, tools and organisation: the keys to an effective export team

Success in international markets depends not only on a good product or a market opportunity: it also requires the right team. This workshop shows how to build a high-performing export team by...

Florent Belleteste

CCI FranceDirecteur International

Anne-Laure Budin

Matching-UPresidente et Fondatrice

Sébastien Pascaud

BpifranceDirection Export

Stéphanie Roussin

FormatexDirectrice

Diasporas from East and West Africa: The Networks Driving the Economy

Diasporas play a major role in the economic growth of the African continent. This forum brings together voices from the East African and West African diasporas, specifically the Lebanese and Indian...

BpifranceSenior Area Advisor Eastern, Southern Africa & Indian Ocean

Enko CapitalPartner Private Equity

Kamal SteelChairman

AGORA PROJECTION

Expanding Internationally: Choosing the Right Model to Accelerate Growth

To expand internationally, you need to develop the right entry model. Whether it’s a subsidiary, a partnership, a joint venture, a local network or a distributor, each option has its own...

Frédéric Berner

CCI France AllemagneDirecteur général

Malika Boussaid

BpifranceResponsable Assurance Prospection

PramexDirectrice commerciale

Jean-Noël Barrot, Ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères de France on Bang stage at Big...

The main stage at The Big, where 70 inspiring top speakers will take to the stage throughout the day.

Jean-Noël Barrot

Ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères de France

Decarbonisation and resources: a presentation by F. Gemenne

François GEMENNE

Sport Business and International Affairs: a presentation by L. de Acarregui

BpifranceResponsable de projet transverse - Direction de la communication

Lydie de Acarregui

Groupe Petit ForestierDirectrice générale France & Business Line Froid Statique Europe

Sport business: the international market as a driver of growth

Jean-Baptiste ALLIOT

LaSourcePartner & Chief Strategy Officer

Florian Lamblin

UTMB InternationalCEO

AGORA PROJECTION

Exporters, don’t let exchange rates dictate your profit margins any longer!

With the volatility of the dollar, uncertainty surrounding the pound sterling and the rise of new markets such as India and the Middle East, managing currency risk is becoming a real competitive...

Benoit Delahaye

2ACDirecteur général

Carla DUHAUTOIS

VELEC GROUPChief Financial Officer - DAF

BpifranceResponsable Assurance Change

African CCI: a new area for growth and cooperation

The cultural and creative industries (CCI) are experiencing unprecedented growth in Africa, driven by a talented young generation, the digital revolution and the emergence of new business models....

MansA /MAKETDirectrice générale /Founder

Gara GamesFondateur

We love Eya - Eya CentreFounder & CEO

World Cup, Expo 2030: MENA, the New Hub for Major Global Events

From the World Cup to Expo 2030, the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region is emerging as a new hub for major global events. This panel discussion will highlight the issues of soft power,...

Safia Fassi Fihri

ADNAFounding partner

Oussama Lachhab

ONCFDirecteur du Pôle Finances, Gouvernace & Achats

Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires Etrangères – MEAEEnvoyé Spécial Villes Durables et Transports, auprès du Ministre de l’Europe et des Affaires Etrangères – MEAE