Confluences welcomes the new Ambassador of France to Cambodia: a forward-looking dialogue between innovation and economic diplomacy

It is in an atmosphere filled with friendliness and optimism that Confluences had the honor last week to welcome His Excellency Olivier Richard, the new Ambassador of France to Cambodia, during his first official visit with the team since his assumption of duties in July 2025.

This symbolic meeting marks an important milestone in the dynamic of economic and entrepreneurial cooperation between France and Cambodia, at the heart of a growing Francophone ecosystem.

Alongside His Excellency were Emmanuel Ly-Batallan, Head of the Economic Service at the French Embassy, and Sarah Lubeigt, Country Representative of Minthacare (Bioderma), reflecting the vitality of exchanges between institutional and private actors in the French business community.

In the Confluences offices, this meeting gave rise to rich exchanges around new axes of collaboration between France and Cambodia. Discussions focused on developing innovative sectors, promoting technological partnerships, and enhancing Franco-Cambodian expertise in the fields of health, industry, and digital services.

Confluences, pioneering platform

For Confluences, a pioneering platform dedicated to supporting Francophone businesses in Southeast Asia, this visit holds special importance. It illustrates the recognition of the strategic role the organization plays in facilitating dialogue between French economic operators and the realities of the Cambodian market. By fostering encounters between innovation, business culture, and economic diplomacy, Confluences pursues its mission as a catalyst for Francophone energies in the region.

The role of France in Cambodia, reiterated several times by the Ambassador, goes far beyond commercial exchanges. It rests on a solid network of institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs driven by the same conviction: that economic dialogue is naturally accompanied by cultural, educational, and technological cooperation.

In this regard, the renewed support from the Embassy for initiatives such as FrancoTech and Confluences demonstrates a coherent economic diplomacy that is both proactive and faithful to the spirit of the Francophonie.

The exchanges, marked by great friendliness, also allowed for discussion of upcoming major events such as

FrancoTech, conceived as an accelerator for technological initiatives, and the 6th edition of the Rendez-vous des Entrepreneurs Francophones (REF), which will bring together next year in Phnom Penh a wide range of decision-makers, investors, and innovators. Another shared horizon announced: the 20th Summit of the Francophonie, a major international event whose organization is generating strong enthusiasm within the Cambodian business community.

The whole team wishes to express its deep gratitude to the Ambassador, Emmanuel Ly-Batallan and their collaborators for their availability, as well as to the French Embassy in Cambodia for its constant support.

Confluences looks forward to continuing this fruitful collaboration through many upcoming projects and to strengthening, with each initiative, the bonds of friendship and economic development between France and Cambodia.