Global Business Briefing with His Excellency Olivier Becht, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On December 12, 2023, the Meridian Corporate Council hosted a Global Business Briefing with His Excellency Olivier Becht, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and His Excellency Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the U.S. The discussion, moderated by Ms. Tiffany Atwell, Senior Vice President, Ecolab, and member of the Corporate Council Executive Committee covered France-U.S. economic and trade relations, general trade issues, and outlook for 2024.

About Minister Olivier Becht

Born in 1976, Minister Olivier Becht is a graduate of ENA, the National School of Public Administration (2002 Senghor class). After ENA, Minister Becht joined the administrative judiciary. In 2008, he left his position to dedicate himself to several local elected roles. He was Mayor of Rixheim until 2017, President Delegate of the Mulhouse Alsace Agglomeration and departmental councilor, and Vice-President of the Haut Rhin Departmental Council. Concurrently, Minister Becht became an associate professor of Law, Geopolitics and Public Finance at the University of Haute Alsace in September 2008. In 2017, Minsiter Becht was elected National Assembly Deputy of the 5th constituency of Haut Rhin. He then became a member of the National Defence and Armed Forces Committee. In January 2020, Minster Becht became President of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media of the Parliamentary Assembly at the Council of Europe. Also in 2020, he created the Parliamentary Group “Agir Ensemble” at the National Assembly and became its President. Re-elected Deputy in 2022, Minister Becht was named Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in July of the same year. He is still a member of the Rixheim Municipal Council and councillor of the Mulhouse Alsace Agglomeration while performing his duties as Minister Delegate. 

About Ambassador Laurent Bili

A graduate of the French National School of Public Administration (ENA) (Victor Hugo Year, 1989-91), Ambassador Laurent Bili joined the French Foreign Ministry’s Strategic Affairs and Disarmament Directorate (1991-93). Seconded to the Defense Ministry as Deputy Diplomatic Adviser (1993-95), Ambassador Bili then held several positions at the Quai d’Orsay: First Secretary and then Second Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Ankara (1995-99), First Secretary, Permanent Representative of France to the Western European Union (WEU) (1998-2000), Adviser to the European Union’s interim Political and Security Committee (PSC) in Brussels (2000-02), Head of Strategic Affairs (2002). In 2002, Ambassador Bili was Director of the Private Office of the Minister Delegate for European Affairs and became technical adviser at the Diplomatic Unit of the Presidency of the French Republic (2002-07). Ambassador Bili successively held the positions of Ambassador to Thailand (2007-09), Director of the Defense Minister’s Civilian and Military Office (2009-10), Ambassador to Turkey (2011-15) and then to Brazil (2015-17). Ambassador Bili was then Director-General for Global Affairs, Culture, Education and International Development at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and G7/G20 Sous-Sherpa (2017-2019). Prior to his appointment in Washington, Ambassador Bili was Ambassador to China since September 2019. 

Here are some takeaways from the program:

The opportunity for increased U.S-France partnership is important now more than ever. With private sector interests in France ranging from its strategic geopolitical standing, technological development, and strengthened investment climate, Meridian Corporate Council members heard directly from Minister Becht on how U.S.-France cooperation can continue bringing opportunities to American businesses. The conversation addressed the prevailing trade issues affecting both nations while simultaneously highlighting opportunities for collaboration and growth. With the global economic landscape ever-changing, participants considered the impact of recent global events on France-U.S. economic and trade relations. From the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the war in the Middle East, as well as a deluge of elections incoming, corporate council members gained insights into how these external factors are influencing the dynamics between these two economic powerhouses. 

This program was made possible through the support of: