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GPF hopes appointment will strengthen its business ties with the region
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Active in 88 countries, GPF fosters business relations between French-speaking countries
Jean Marie Bockel has been appointed as the new ambassador in charge of the Middle East at the Groupement du Patronat Francophone (GPF), the official group of employers of La Francophonie (the organization of French-speaking countries).
The GPF’s committee Board, chaired by its President Jean-Lou Blachier, appointed Bockel as the new ambassador for the Middle East.
Bockel is a French politician. During his career, he was a senator for the Haut Rhin region, a member of the French parliament, mayor of the city of Mulhouse, and several times minister during the presidencies of Francois Mitterand and Nicolas Sarkozy.
In 2007, he was the secretary of state in charge of cooperation and Francophonie. During his mandate as the senator, he was the president of the France-GCC countries Group.
“His appointment is in line with the ambitious strategy of the GPF to strengthen its business and cultural ties with the Middle East and mainly with the Gulf region. His long experience in French diplomacy and his knowledge of the Middle East will be a great added-value for the Groupement du Patronat Francophone,” Blachier said.
The GPF is active in 88 countries to develop business relations between French-speaking countries, by mainly fostering entrepreneurship initiatives, supporting investments, and encouraging international trades.
The GPF has also opened its doors to companies from Francophile countries, including all public and private entities with interest in doing business with French-speaking countries.
French is today the fifth most widely spoken language on the planet, representing 300 million people. French is also the second business language of the European Area and the third global business language in the world.