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Sommet de la Francophonie
The Francophone world comes to Cambodia
Francophonie week in Phnom Penh
This November, Phnom Penh hosts the 20th Sommet de la Francophonie, the supreme decision making body of the Francophonie. It’s the first ever held in Cambodia, and only the second in Asia since Hanoi in 1997.
Heads of State and Government from across the Francophonie will meet on 15-16 November. Delegations from around 90 member states, associate members and observers are expected, representing close to 396 million French speakers on five continents.
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More than a diplomatic summit
Beyond its political significance, the Sommet is a prime platform for visibility, dialogue and networking for economic, institutional and consular actors across the Francophone world. It strengthens cooperation between the countries of the South, and between North and South, and promotes Francophone expertise and economic initiatives.
The Sommet is the centre of a full week. Foreign ministers meet at the Ministerial Conference on 14 November. More than 3,000 business leaders and investors are expected at the Rencontre des Entrepreneurs Francophones. FrancoTech brings together startups and innovators. The Village de la Francophonie expects more than 100,000 visitors to its pavilions from over 90 member states. Several bilateral agreements are also expected to be signed during the Summit.
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Why it matters for finance
Rarely are so many governments, central banks and businesses from Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia in one city at the same time. That makes it the moment to start building financial links between ASEAN and the Francophone world: payments, investment and partnerships between markets that have had few direct connections until now.
The Black Swan Summit runs alongside the Sommet on 15-16 November. While the Sommet sets the diplomatic agenda, BSS is where the week’s conversations on payments, digital money and financial infrastructure happen, with the National Bank of Cambodia, the central bank that built Bakong.
The week at a glance
Saturday 14 November
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 48th Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie Foreign ministers from across the Francophonie meet to prepare the Summit. Government decision makers arrive in Phnom Penh from the start of the week.
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 FrancoTech The Francophonie’s main business meeting, bringing together more than 3,000 business leaders and investors from across the Francophone world.
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 Rencontre des Entrepreneurs Francophones The Francophonie’s main business meeting, bringing together more than 3,000 business leaders and investors from across the Francophone world.
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 Village de la Francophonie A cultural and trade showcase at Wat Botum Park, with pavilions from more than 90 member states. Every Francophone market, in one place.
Sunday 15 November
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 Black Swan Summit Cambodia Meet the National Bank of Cambodia, central bankers, banks and FinTechs from ASEAN and the Francophone world, and help build the payment links between them.
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 20th Sommet de la Francophonie Heads of State and Government set the Francophonie’s priorities for the years ahead. The agreements signed here shape trade and cooperation between member states.
Monday 16 November
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 France-Cambodia Business Forum Led by CCI France Cambodge. A direct route to Cambodian companies for French businesses looking at ASEAN.
Wednesday 18 November
- 09:0012:00Live 09:00–12:00 Singapore FinTech Festival The world’s largest FinTech gathering begins two days after the Black Swan Summit closes, so you can extend your trip across two of Asia’s key financial hubs.
ASEAN is a market of nearly 700 million people, and Bakong already links Cambodia to nine markets across Asia, with Rwanda next. Help build the corridor at Black Swan Summit Cambodia.