Arise IIP partners with Bpifrance to develop industrialisation projects in Africa

Nicolas Dufourcq, CEO of Bpifrance, and Gagan Gupta, CEO of Arise IIP, a pan-African developer and operator of industrial parks, have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop joint co-industrialisation projects and facilitate business ecosystem connections between Africa and France, in cooperation with all Bpifrance offices on the continent.

In the framework of this MoU, Bpifrance and Arise IIP will work together to identify and support their respective ecosystems’ potentials and boost trade, with the objective of sustainable development.

The partners join forces to:

– Create and animate a community of African and French industrial SMEs and medium-sized companies wishing to set up in the special economic zones (SEZ). In particular, mobilise agricultural and agri-food industrial companies;

– Facilitate bilateral financing programmes;

– Study the possibility of joint investments.

At the signing ceremony, Dufourcq said, “We are very pleased to cooperate with Arise IIP to work together on these aspects of co-industrialisation and connecting business ecosystems between Africa and France. The objective for Bpifrance will be to leverage the potential of these industrial platforms to make French and African entrepreneurs aware of these opportunities and boost business connections and exchanges by deploying our joint non-financial and financial support tools.”

Gupta added, “This ambitious programme with our trusted partner, Bpifrance, will accelerate the development of French SMEs in Africa. ARISE IIP’s industrial platforms across the continent are real growth levers for these French companies wishing to seize the opportunities linked to the sustainable industrialisation of the continent.”