Date and Time
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026
12:15–1:45 p.m. MST
Location
World Trade Center Utah
Lobby Training Room
Registration
France: Investment and Innovation
Bonjour, business opportunities 🇫🇷
Global Exchange: France was a reminder of just how much opportunity can come from long-standing relationships.
The conversation brought Utah and French leaders together to explore the connections already in place — and where there’s room to build more. From investment innovation to education, culture and the 2034 Olympic Winter Games, there was a clear sense that the relationship extends well beyond trade.
One point that stood out was the scale of France’s economic connection to Utah. French companies accounted for approximately 5,000 jobs in the state in 2023, making France Utah’s second-largest foreign source of employment.
The conversation also surfaced opportunities in areas where both markets are looking ahead, including technology, quantum, aerospace and defense, life sciences, energy, and critical minerals.
The takeaway from the room was clear: strong international relationships create a foundation for what comes next, and Utah and France have plenty of opportunities to keep building together.
This event was hosted in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Salt Lake Chamber.
Consul General Valérie Brisset
Valérie Brisset is a career diplomat who has served in France’s diplomatic network since 2011, including as first counselor at the French Embassy in Greece and deputy head of mission and head of the Political Chancellery at the French Embassy in China.
From 2022 to February 2026, she served as deputy director for Cultural, Educational, Academic, and Scientific Diplomacy at France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, helping oversee France’s global cultural and cooperation network.
Brisset is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris and the École nationale d’administration and studied at the London School of Economics and the University of Warwick. Before joining the foreign ministry, she worked at the Louvre Museum and taught European affairs.
Global Exchange
Join us as we bring together global influencers at our in-person roundtable discussions with top government and business leaders from around the world. Be a part of meaningful conversations and make valuable connections that will expand your perspective and knowledge of the global marketplace. These roundtables are designed for the ambitious and forward-thinking individual who wants to stay ahead of the curve in the world of international trade.
In partnership with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and Salt Lake Chamber.
