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On April 9, 2026, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie(OIF, International Organization of the Francophonie) with Confluences organized a workshop “The Francophonie Economic Mission to Djibouti and ‘Return’ Missions to Gabon and Romania: Opportunities for Cambodian Businesses.” The session presented local companies the potential opportunities of these markets and strategies ahead of their 2026 missions to Gabon (May 6–7), Romania (June 10–11) and Djibouti (October 6–8).

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The event gathered over 80 business representatives from diverse industries and senior government officials. Their presence highlighted strong public-private collaboration, as well as growing trade relations across these 93-member countries in the OIF.

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The Fresh Investment Channels into Africa and Europe

Working closely with our partner the OIF's APAC representative Kaloyan KOLEV, the session offered a practical guidance for Cambodian businesses to maximize their engagement in these missions and to directly access the potential of these three regional markets:

• Djibouti:  A strategic trade hub linking Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and a key gateway to Ethiopia and the COMESA market (600M consumers). Its economy is service-driven (>80% of GDP), anchored by ports and logistics, and supported by political stability and investor-friendly policies. Growth is fueled by infrastructure investment, with rising opportunities in transport and logistics, digital services, renewable energy, healthcare, and sustainable. More information, click here.

• Gabon: A strategic Central African economy of 2.6M people, with a GDP of about $20.9B and an estimated growth rate of 3.7% in 2026. Oil remains the dominant sector, but the country is actively diversifying into timber, mining, and ecotourism, with rising opportunities in agri-food processing and digital technologies.

• Romania: An economy of 18.8M consumers and a €353B GDP (2024), with projected growth of 1.5% - 2.9% in 2026. The economy is highly integrated with the EU and offers a strong environment for FDI. Key sectors include automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction, machinery, and cybersecurity, with growth opportunities in healthcare (pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals) and digital transformation.
  
  

“We have seen local businesses grow through Francophone networks. Confluences has been placing Cambodia in this major international economic relation and look beyond nearby regional hubs. By working with the OIF for this mission, local companies gained direct access to new markets waiting to be explored, practical insights into trade cooperation, and valuable connections that expand global opportunities for Cambodia.” — Anovita ING, Market Access Specialist at Confluences.

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Confluences Sets Roadmap Toward November Summit

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Supporting the OIF's economic mission has been part of Confluences’ broader strategy to promote Cambodia’s ties with the Francophone community. Insights and partnerships from these exchanges will further the 20th Summit and related events in Phnom Penh this November.

Local businesses that missed the spot for this mission still have other opportunities ahead. Get your business profile ready for the massive influx of Francophone delegations. Follow Confluences LinkedIn to stay updated on the Summit and upcoming B2B events to broaden your connections.
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To learn more about market opportunities in Cambodia or with our Francophone partners, please contact our Market Access Manager, Dara N. VAN, at Dara.n.van@confluences.asia .

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About the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF, International Organization of the Francophonie) is an institution dedicated since 1970 to bringing together 93 member states across five continents that share the French language and common values. The OIF promotes multilateral Francophone cooperation in the areas of politics, democracy, education, culture, and the economy, with the aim of fostering sustainable development, peace, and human rights across the Francophone world.

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