Business France North America

[#FrenchArtofMaking] 🛋Designers, architects, and home decor professionals gathered at ICFF for opening day! At the heart of it all, the French Art of Making delegation is showcasing its latest creations. ✨ 14 elite French artisans and creative brands are presenting their unique expertise, from bespoke furniture and decorative arts to luxury fixtures and innovative design processes. Join us at booth 145 to meet them! 🚀 Join us at our booth this afternoon for an exclusive panel discussion : “250 Years of Influence: How French & American Design Shape Each Other Today.” Bringing together leading voices from the industry, the discussion will feature Isabelle Mauviel, Sia, Loïc Turpin - Mobilier national, Thais Roda - Baccarat, and Ella Birnbaum -Malherbe New York. 🙏 Many thanks to our sponsor Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP for their support. 🔗 Can’t attend the event? Consult our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/etJwUJZS Sébastien VICENTE - Héloïse Bourrel - Patricia Chung - Fanny Airault - Sébastien Laxenaire Andrée Putman Studio - Atelier Boccara Boccara Gallery - Atelier de la Torre - ATELIER FRANÇOIS POUENAT - Atelier Lebuisson - ColAAb ART + FUNCTION - Constant M furniture - Fouassier Interiors - La Compagnie du Verre - Procédés Chenel International - Samir Mazer - Thomas Formont

[CHOOSE FRANCE] In the context of the Web Summit, Business France North America had the pleasure of hosting a #ChooseFrance Forum on May 14 in Vancouver, bringing together Canadian leaders from the tech and industrial sectors. From Vancouver to Paris, from Canada to France, today has shown how closely aligned our ecosystems already are, and how much more we can build together. Like Vancouver, France is a leading tech and innovation hub, with strengths in AI, digital platforms, and deep tech, built on strong industrial foundations in aerospace, mobility, energy transition, and advanced manufacturing. This shared focus on industrial sovereignty, sustainability, and scale creates a natural bridge for joint development, testing, and commercialization. Thank you to Craig Natsuhara, Partner at EY Law LLP - Business Immigration, for welcoming us today. Thank you as well to Sophie Sidos, President of the Les Conseillers du Commerce extérieur de la France for your opening remarks and for being such a strong representative of the French business community. Thank you to our trusted regional partner Provence Promotion - the invest in Provence agency and the presence of Erik Fackeldey representing the South of France Region, most specifically the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis. Raphaël Dang, of the Consulate General of France in Vancouver, gave us the honors of closing the event, while highlighting the complementarity of Canada and France. “Like Vancouver, France combines strong industrial foundations with cutting‑edge innovation, from aerospace and mobility to energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and AI applied to industry.” Our panelists shared valuable perspectives on their own journey in France and on what makes the country an attractive place to scale innovative projects. Mark Godsy, Chairman and CEO of Naqi Logix Inc. underlined France’s innovation and technology ecosystem:   “France’s AI ecosystem is world-class. Our acquisition of Wisear reflects NAQI Logix’s commitment to expanding in Europe and scaling breakthrough innovation globally.” Bertrand Lamaison from Conair Aerial Firefighting further highlighted the strategic fundamentals that support investment decisions:  “Setting up our subsidiary in France was a strategic decision. The country offers a strong industrial base, talent, and a clear commitment to innovation and international partnerships.” Thank you again for your presence: - Round Table I: Nicholas Miller from ESG.AI, Geoffroy Pajot from Capgemini, Mark Godsy from Naqi Logix Inc.. - Round Table II: Bertrand Lamaison from Conair Aerial Firefighting, Eric Karsh from EQUILIBRIUM consulting inc and Jean-Claude Lasserre from Saint-Gobain. A special thank you as well to our trusted partners the Ambassade de France au Canada, Service économique régional au Canada, Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Western Canada (CCI-FWC).

🛫 [CHOOSE FRANCE] After Choose France summits and panels in Chicago, San Francisco and Washington last month, we’re gearing up for a series of Canadian summits, starting with Vancouver next week! In the presence of Raphaël Dang, Consul General of France in Vancouver, Invest in Provence by Provence Promotion will highlight how the Marseille-Provence region –and France in general– welcomes investors and entrepreneurs seeking to expand in Europe. 🌅 According to a 2025 EY study, Marseille was named one of the most attractive French city for foreign investment, right after Paris and Lyon. Tech, digital, and artificial intelligence are now the leading sectors of attraction in Provence, thanks in particular to initiatives such as the Zebox incubator, led by CMA CGM, as well as a soft landing program for international companies. 🌎 In a cross perspective panel discussion, French and British Columbian companies ESG.AI, Conair Aerial Firefighting, Capgemini, EQUILIBRIUM, Saint-Gobain and Naqi Logix Inc. will offer some personal insights and let us know how they found success after crossing the Atlantic and setting up in both markets. 📪 Stay tuned for some highlights after the event! Thank you to our partners EY Law LLP - Business Immigration, French Embassy in Canada, Service économique régional au Canada, Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Western Canada (CCI-FWC) and French Foreign Trade Advisors for their support! #ChooseFrance #investinFrance #FDI - Mamoun Cheddadi - Elise Quinio - Lucile Omaly - Kenzo Bourreau - Elodie R. - Morgan Jacquat - Pierre W. - Frédéric ROSSI

[CHOOSE FRANCE] Yesterday, as part of his visit to the West Coast, Business France Chairman and French Ambassador for International Investment Pascal Cagni, spoke at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles. This prestigious event brings together top investors from across the world to discuss current geopolitical trends and future perspectives, and France’s presences demonstrates its role as a priority FDI destination. Along with a selection of esteemed European counterparts, M. Cagni spoke on a panel entitled “Why Investors Should Look Again at Europe”, specifically speaking to the attractive investment prospects of France. He emphasized the critical importance of deeper integration of European capital markets to unlock investment at scale, and underscored France’s commitment to building out the AI value chain as part of a broader European technology strategy. Finally, he highlighted the interconnected and complementary nature of France-US and Europe-US relationships. This conference was an excellent opportunity to showcase all France has to offer in both its own right and as part of a dynamic European investment ecosystem. Thanks to all who attended! Interested in learning more about investing in France? Comment below and our team will be in touch. Business France (Invest in France) - Consulate General of France in Los Angeles - Adrien Frier #choosefrance #MIGlobal #ChooseEurope #investment #aivaluechain #tech Photo Credit: Milken Institute

[CHOOSE FRANCE] To mark the visit of France Ambassador to International Investments, Pascal Cagni, Business France North America had the pleasure of hosting a #ChooseFrance Reception in San Francisco, bringing together California leaders from the tech, biotech and industrial sectors.   Thank you Paul Salvaire, Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of France in San Francisco, for opening the evening and reaffirming that growth and innovation in a fast-changing world rely on building bridges. The long-standing France–U.S. partnership, grounded in strong economic ties and complementary ecosystems, matters more than ever.    Ambassador Pascal Cagni presented France’s strategic vision and technological advantages, emphasizing its positioning as Europe’s leading AI infrastructure hub. He highlighted the French government’s active role in ecosystem development and its trusted framework for protecting critical assets and supporting responsible growth.    Our panelists reflected on their decision to call France “home.”  Jagadeesh Ambati  (EverestLabs.AI) highlighted the advantage of easy access to highly trained talent, enabling the creation of deeply committed teams. Hanneke Krekels (AMD) noted that a unique, government-level commitment to AI had the power to rapidly reposition France as a European leader.    Together, they also drew attention to Europe’s clear and coordinated approach to technology deployment—and France’s central role in driving this momentum by transforming innovation into sustainable, long-term industrial solutions rather than “short-term bets”. Again, thank you both for joining us.    If you’d like to learn more about the Choose France initiative or Business France’s mission, connect with our local #TeamFrance ! Ludivine Courqueux, Oscar Baud, Pierre-louis Janot - Morgan Jacquat Ruth Suissa Business France - Business France (Invest in France) 

[#FrenchArtofMaking] Let’s meet our 2 final exhibitors, that offer luxury bathroom fixtures – join us at booth 145 at ICFF to meet them: ✨ Horus embodies French excellence in luxury faucets and ceramics, designing exceptional, meticulously crafted pieces for the most demanding architectural and prestigious hospitality projects worldwide. 🛁 Herbeau specializes in the design and manufacture of high-end bathroom products, combining innovation and French savoir-faire to deliver elegant, highly functional custom showers, bathtubs, and sinks. ➡️ Want to learn more? Consult our website: https://lnkd.in/etJwUJZS Sébastien VICENTE - Héloïse Bourrel - Patricia Chung - Fanny Airault - Sébastien Laxenaire

[CHOOSE FRANCE] In the context of DMV Deep Tech, Business France North America had the pleasure of hosting a #ChooseFrance Panel in Washington DC, alongside with ONLYLYON  and Choose Paris Region representatives.  Organized by  STATION DC, a non-profit built for frontier‑tech founders, and Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, this morning's discussion brought together +70 local entrepreneurs and leaders from the deep tech, defense, aerospace, quantum, AI and other industrial sectors.  This panel conversation aimed to foster direct exchanges between decision‑makers, identify real opportunities for collaboration, while enabling concrete implantation and partnership projects between the Washington DC Region and the French ecosystems.     This momentum reaffirmed France’s leading tech ecosystem and our strong conviction that this is not about “exporting businesses” but about “building bridges” for international companies targeting Europe and beyond.    Thank you Bobbye Jo Green for the speaking opportunity and being such a pillar of Washington DC’s dynamic business community while at STATION DC.    Thank you to our featured speakers : Benjamin Turlay from ONLY LYON, Cécile Jupin from Choose Paris Region and Elisa Gibert from Business France North America who jointly represented France. If you’d like to learn more about the Choose France initiative or Business France’s mission, connect with our local hashtag #TeamFrance !  Elise Quinio (Industry) - Elisa Gibert (Tech) - Jean Mostert (Healthcare) - Mike H. (Services)     Business France - Business France (Invest in France) 

[#FrenchArtofMaking] ➡️ Let’s meet six artists and creative brands who will be showcased at the French Art of Making event during ICFF. Through exceptional craftsmanship, they create artistic pieces that elevate interior spaces: 🧶 Atelier Boccara - Boccara Gallery specializes in creating exceptional, high-end rugs, combining over 40 years of expertise with a contemporary vision. Each rug is entirely hand-woven using traditional French techniques inspired by Savonnerie craftsmanship, ensuring the highest level of quality and detail. 🧵 Atelier Lebuisson is a Paris-based textile design studio dedicated to couture-level artisanal designs, pushing the boundaries of traditional hand embroidery to elevate the most exceptional interiors. ⚒️ ATELIER FRANÇOIS POUENAT represents the fifth generation of a family of metalworkers, creating bespoke, high-quality handmade ironwork pieces, including staircases, fireplaces, and decorative panels for clients around the world. 🪟 Founded in 2017, La Compagnie du Verre is France's leading atelier specializing in cold glass transformation — sandblasting, chiseling, gilding and UV bonding — for architects, interior designers and decorators. 🧱 Samir Mazer is an artist & designer who has dedicated his career to reimagining the ancestral art of Moroccan zellige mosaic as a medium for contemporary expression in art and architectural application. 🧑🎨 Thomas Formont creates pedestal sculptures and wall-mounted artworks. Each piece is unique and shaped from sheets of copper and brass, formed into volume using cold-working techniques. He also works on commission for high-end interior design projects, creating large-scale wall pieces and one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures. ➡️ Want to learn more about these talented creators? Consult our website: https://lnkd.in/etJwUJZS Sébastien VICENTE - Héloïse Bourrel - Patricia Chung - Fanny Airault - Sébastien Laxenaire

[#FrenchArtofMaking] Join us at ICFF from May 17-19 to discover three creative companies offering bespoke furniture: 🛋️ Andrée Putman Studio develops a range of furniture, lighting, and accessories that extend its architectural vision into everyday life, combining carefully selected materials with precise proportions. 🪑 Constant M furniture stands as a signature brand in fine cabinetmaking, seamlessly fusing rare veneers and exceptional luxury leatherwork to create sculptural, fully bespoke pieces. 🖼️ ColAAb ART + FUNCTION challenges contemporary visual artists to push the boundaries of their practice by creating extraordinary, never-before-seen functional art furniture. ➡️ To learn more about these experts, consult our website: https://lnkd.in/etJwUJZS Sébastien VICENTE - Héloïse Bourrel - Patricia Chung - Fanny Airault - Sébastien Laxenaire

[Hidden Treasures] ✨ Take a first look at the upcoming Hidden Treasures exhibition at The Shed (NY), taking place from May 26-31. 💫 Curated and led by the Comité Colbert team, under the direction of Bénédicte Épinay, this special exhibition will bring together 65 Maisons and institutions as they each unveil a “hidden treasure” within a shipping crate, an evocative tribute to the journey across the Atlantic, within an immersive scenography imagined by Museum Studio. 🤝 Supported by Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch, JCDecaux, and ISG Luxury Program, this exhibition invites visitors to discover the deep relationship between the two nations, as a living force that has left a significant mark on American art, diplomacy, identity, and pop culture.