MEDEF International
MEDEF International is a private French non-profit association founded in 1993, operating a membership-based business network that helps French companies of all sizes expand internationally across 120+ countries through geographic councils, sector task forces, business missions, and high-level political and institutional access.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MEDEF International does
MEDEF International is a private non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1993 and headquartered in Paris, recognized as the premier private French international business network. It is closely affiliated with MEDEF (the French Business Confederation) and operates without public subsidies, funded entirely through membership fees. The organization supports French companies of all sizes (TPE, PME, ETI, grands groupes) in their international development across 120+ countries, with reinforced focus on emerging and developing markets for over 30 years.
Its core offering is a membership-based platform combining 90+ geographic business councils and sector task forces (sustainable cities, agri-agro, energy transition including hydrogen and critical materials, digital), organized business missions, B2B matchmaking, and high-level engagement with heads of state, ministers, regulators, and institutional investors. A dedicated Washington DC office (opened September 2019) provides specialized access to multilateral development banks (World Bank Group, IDB, AsDB, EBRD, IsDB, EIB, AFD). The organization does not develop technology products; its core "technology" is the network itself, accumulated over three decades with 140+ partner business associations globally and 80+ French business leaders chairing its councils and task forces.
Revenue is generated through tiered membership (Active Member starting at €1,000/year, with a Founding Member tier offering board representation and council presidency rights) supplemented by mission and event pricing with member discounts. The organization reports 90%+ membership renewal rates and 5-10% annual growth in new memberships, with a lean team of approximately 25 employees based in Paris and Washington DC. Distribution is direct and sales-led, supported by digital channels (website, LinkedIn, Twitter), publications, newsletters, and a dense calendar of in-person forums, missions, and webinars.
MEDEF International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MEDEF International
- Legal name
- MEDEF International
- Website
- https://medefinternational.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MEDEF International is a private French non-profit association founded in 1993, operating a membership-based business network that helps French companies of all sizes expand internationally across 120+ countries through geographic councils, sector task forces, business missions, and high-level political and institutional access.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MEDEF International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Business Networking Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (81391), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)
Keywords
Where MEDEF International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
MEDEF International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership fees: MEDEF International generates revenue through membership fees from French companies. Membership is open to all companies established in France regardless of size or sector. The organization does not receive public subsidies and operates in the collective interest of the private sector.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Non-member pricing - full public rates for all services and events |
| Subscription | Annual | Active Member - starts at 1000-1082 EUR HT/year, 30% discount on events |
| Subscription | Annual | Founding Member - highest tier with board seat and presidency rights |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
MEDEF International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MEDEF International is a private non-profit business association that operates as the premier French private international business network. It delivers networking, business councils, organized trade missions, B2B matchmaking, sector task forces, webinars, and access to international financial institutions to support French companies' international development across 120+ countries.
Product overview
MEDEF International is a private business network service for French companies' international development, not a single product but rather a comprehensive service portfolio. The core offering centers on over 90 geographic business councils (Conseils d'entreprises) covering more than 120 countries, complemented by sector-specific task forces (Pôles Filières) addressing ville durable, agroalimentaire, transition énergétique (including hydrogen and biogaz), and matériaux critiques. Services include organized business missions with B2B facilitation, webinars and conferences with international decision-makers, and Index Up40 for startup support. A dedicated Washington D.C. office provides access to international financial institutions (World Bank, BID, USAID, MCC, DFC), while relationships with major development banks (AFD, EBRD, Asian Development Bank) support project financing. Membership starts at €1,000/year with tiered benefits for active and founding members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Index Up40: An index of 40 best French startups active in Africa, all generating revenue under 10 million euros with at least two-thirds from African activities.
- Task Force Ville Durable
- Task Force Hydrogène
- Task Force Matériaux Critiques
- Pôle Agri-Agro
- Pôle Transition Énergétique
Products and services
- Business Councils (Conseils d'entreprises)
- Business Missions (Missions d'entreprises)
- Webinars and Conferences
- Sector Task Forces (Pôles Filières)
- Index Up40
- Washington Office Services (Offre Washington)
- IFI Financing Support
- Membership Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 120+ countries covered with market intelligence and business development support
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use MEDEF International
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MEDEF International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MEDEF International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- FPT CorporationmajorFPT Corporation co-organized the Vietnam-France Business Forum 2026 with MEDEF International and Business France to advance strategic technology cooperation, particularly in sovereign AI and AI-driven business models, building on the 2024 upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- Invest QatarmajorInvest Qatar, Qatar's Investment Promotion Agency, hosted a high-level investment seminar in Paris in partnership with MEDEF International as part of a business roadshow to strengthen bilateral economic relations and attract French investment. France ranks among Qatar's top 5 FDI source countries.
- Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE)coreFKE participated in an engagement session alongside the Africa Forward Summit, discussing deepening cross-border partnerships and accelerating trade and investment flows between Kenya and France.
- Ethiopian Employers' FederationcoreMEDEF International continues organizing investment delegations to Ethiopia, with the Ethiopian Employers' Federation facilitating French company expansion into the market of over 120 million people and economic reforms opening sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and retail.
- Africa Forward Summit (Kenya)majorMEDEF International co-organized the Africa Forward Inspire and Connect Business Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya from May 11-12, 2026. The summit brought together over 2,000 African and European business leaders, investors, and public decision-makers to discuss cooperation in Green Tech, AI, health, culture, and industry.
- Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA)majorQBA, in cooperation with MEDEF International, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and HEC Paris in Doha, organized a Qatari-French startup competition to promote digital innovation and cross-border entrepreneurship. The competition forms part of a 2024 MoU signed during the Amir of Qatar's official visit to Paris.
- Embassy of Sri Lanka in FrancemajorMEDEF International organized the Sri Lanka Business Forum 2026 in Paris in partnership with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France, attracting French companies to explore investment opportunities and featuring presentations from Orange Marine.
- Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA)majorQBA hosted a French business delegation from MEDEF International in Doha for a luncheon to strengthen bilateral investment ties, highlighting ongoing collaboration including MoUs and potential joint projects across energy, healthcare, and technology sectors.
- African Employer Federations (50+ countries)coreExtensive network of African employer federations and chambers of commerce across North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and other nations, facilitating bilateral business councils.
- Asian and Pacific Business Associations (30+ countries)coreNetwork of Asian and Pacific business associations including India's CII and FICCI, Japan's Keidanren, Korea's FKI, ASEAN business councils, and other regional employer federations enabling cross-border business connections.
- Americas Employer Federations (25+ countries)coreNetwork of American employer federations and chambers of commerce including US Chamber of Commerce, Canada's CCC, Brazil's CNI and FIESP, Mexico's COPARMEX, and other regional business associations.
- Eurasian Employer FederationscoreNetwork of Eurasian employer federations including Russia's RSPP, Kazakhstan's Atameken, Uzbekistan's State Investment Committee, Turkey's DEIK and TÜSIAD, Ukraine's ULIE, and other regional business associations.
- International Financial Institutions (World Bank, AfDB, IDB, AsDB, EBRD, IsDB, EIB, AFD)corePartnership with major multilateral and bilateral development banks to help French companies access IFI-financed projects. MEDEF International opened Washington office in September 2019 to strengthen engagement with World Bank Group, IDB, MCC, and DFC.
- Malaysia Prime Minister's Office and MinistriesmajorPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim led a Malaysian delegation to Paris in 2025 to reinforce France-Malaysia bilateral economic cooperation across aerospace, energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MEDEF International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MEDEF: The French Business Confederation (Movement of the Enterprises of France), the parent network of which MEDEF International is the international arm. Comparable as the apex French employer federation, but with a domestic rather than international development focus.
- Coface: French export credit agency and trade credit insurer that helps French and European companies manage international trade risks. Comparable in serving French exporters internationally, with a more specialized risk-insurance and B2B information offering.
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): Global business organization with national committees in 100+ countries that facilitates international trade, dispute resolution, and policy advocacy. Comparable as a business-led network enabling cross-border commercial activity, but more globally federated than country-anchored.
Regional players
- Eurochambres: The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, representing 45 national chamber systems. Comparable in providing a federated network for international business, but with a specifically European institutional focus rather than emerging-market emphasis.
Direct peers
- BDI (Federation of German Industries): The German equivalent apex industry federation, representing German industry and supporting internationalization. Functionally analogous to MEDEF as the umbrella business association, with a similar council/task force structure for international markets.
- Keidanren: Japan's leading business federation. Comparable as an Asian counterpart supporting Japanese companies internationally, with strong relationships in ASEAN, US, and emerging Asia. MEDEF International explicitly maintains partner relationships with Keidanren.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The largest American business federation, with international divisions supporting US company internationalization and bilateral business engagement. Comparable scale and mission of facilitating cross-border commercial activity for national members.
- Confederation of British Industry (CBI): The UK's principal business lobby and member services organization. Comparable as a national employers' federation offering international trade support, though with a stronger domestic policy focus and weakened recent membership position.
- Business France: French government agency for international business development, exporting, and investment. Directly comparable as a French-focused international business development organization, though publicly funded and with broader service scope including VIE program and export financing support.
- Confindustria: The main Italian employers' federation and business association. Comparable as a continental European private sector peak body supporting member companies' international expansion, particularly in emerging markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MEDEF International social profiles
Digital presenceMEDEF International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MEDEF International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
MEDEF International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MEDEF International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MEDEF International
What does MEDEF International do?
MEDEF International is a private non-profit business association that operates as the premier French private international business network. It delivers networking, business councils, organized trade missions, B2B matchmaking, sector task forces, webinars, and access to international financial institutions to support French companies' international development across 120+ countries.
Is MEDEF International a public or private company?
MEDEF International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MEDEF International founded?
MEDEF International was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MEDEF International based?
MEDEF International is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does MEDEF International make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership fees.
Who are MEDEF International's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MEDEF, Coface and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Eurochambres is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are BDI (Federation of German Industries), Keidanren, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Business France and Confindustria.
Does MEDEF International have an API?
No public API is recorded for MEDEF International.
What industry is MEDEF International in?
MEDEF International's product category is International Business Networking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels, with a secondary code of BPADACAJ, Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type). Its NAICS code is 81391 and its SIC code is 8600.