Ubifrance
Business France (formerly Ubifrance) is the French national agency for internationalization of the French economy, supporting French companies' export growth, attracting foreign investment into France, and administering the V.I.E. international talent program via 1,400 staff across 53 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ubifrance does
Business France (operating as Ubifrance prior to its merger with AFII) is the French national agency mandated to drive the internationalization of the French economy. Its mandate is dual: to support French companies — across all sizes and sectors — in exporting and expanding internationally, and to prospect and welcome foreign investment into France. The agency is structured around three service pillars. First, export support is delivered through the Team France Export initiative, which formally combines Business France, Bpifrance, and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and is reinforced by the France 2030 Export program targeting strategic sectors. Second, investment attraction is operated through the Welcome digital platform and the annual Choose France investor summit (held since 2018), supported by in-country advisors who guide foreign companies on implantation, site selection, and regulatory navigation. Third, the agency administers the V.I.E (Volontariat International en Entreprise) program, enabling French and foreign companies to recruit young professionals for international assignments.
The agency's underlying technology stack is conventional government-platform architecture rather than a differentiated proprietary product. The Welcome platform and media.businessfrance.fr serve as digital front doors, while service delivery is overwhelmingly human-mediated through a field force of 1,400 collaborators distributed across offices in France and 53 countries. No AI/ML systems, proprietary data models, or application programming interfaces are disclosed in the source material. Visible client integrations surface through named customer cases spanning aerospace (Flying Whales), consumer health (Puressentiel), energy/nuclear (Edvance), IT/IoT (Webdyn), automotive/industrial equipment (GYS), and software services (Crayon), all engaging via the V.I.E. and Team France Export channels.
As a government state entity under the République Française, Business France does not generate commercial revenue in the conventional sense; it is funded through public appropriations and operates under board-level governance (Conseil d'administration) and an executive committee (Comité exécutif). Its "customer" relationships are largely non-transactional advisory engagements supplemented by V.I.E. program administration, and pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is field-led enterprise sales, with brand-building supported by an owned media presence on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, YouTube, and email newsletters, plus recurring flagship events such as Choose France and participation in trade shows such as Vivatechnology.
Ubifrance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ubifrance
- Legal name
- Business France
- Website
- https://ubifrance.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Business France (formerly Ubifrance) is the French national agency for internationalization of the French economy, supporting French companies' export growth, attracting foreign investment into France, and administering the V.I.E. international talent program via 1,400 staff across 53 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ubifrance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Trade Promotion Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)
- SIC
- Foreign Governments (8888), International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investment Promotion & FDI Facilitation (BPADAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)
Keywords
Where Ubifrance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ubifrance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: As the national agency for internationalization of the French economy, Business France operates as a government-funded agency supporting international development of French enterprises and foreign investment attraction in France.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ubifrance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Business France (formerly Ubifrance) is the French national agency for the internationalization of the French economy. It supports French companies in launching internationally and conquering new markets, prospects and accompanies foreign investors establishing operations in France, and operates the V.I.E (Volontariat International en Entreprise) program to help companies recruit young talent for international assignments. The agency also runs the Team France Export initiative with Bpifrance and French Chambers of Commerce.
Product overview
Business France (formerly Ubifrance) operates as a unified platform providing three interconnected service areas: (1) Export support through Team France Export and France 2030 Export initiatives that help French companies expand internationally; (2) Investment attraction through the Welcome platform and Choose France event that guide foreign companies establishing operations in France; (3) International recruitment via the V.I.E program that connects companies with young talent for global assignments. The organization has 1,400 employees present in France and 53 countries worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Welcome: The Welcome website by Business France that supports foreign companies in their establishment and development in France.
- Choose France
- Team France Export
- France 2030 Export
- V.I.E (Volontariat International en Entreprise)
Products and services
- Welcome A dedicated website platform by Business France that accompanies foreign companies in their implantation and development in France, providing guidance on setting up operations, choosing locations, and navigating French business requirements.
- Choose France An annual business summit dedicated to foreign investors focused on France's attractiveness, supporting growth, innovation, and employment. Held annually since 2018.
- Team France Export Collaborative export acceleration program combining Business France, Bpifrance, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry to accelerate international development of French companies.
- V.I.E (Volontariat International en Entreprise) International volunteer program operated by Business France to help companies recruit young talent for international assignments, enabling French companies to expand globally and foreign companies to access skilled youth.
- France 2030 Export Government initiative under the France 2030 national investment plan supporting export development for French companies across strategic sectors.
Companies that use Ubifrance
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ubifrance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ubifrance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- EDFcoreBusiness France and EDF have reinforced their partnership to serve the economic attractiveness of France. This collaboration supports investment attraction efforts and promotes France as a destination for foreign investment.
- BpifrancecorePartnership within Team France Export initiative combining Business France, Bpifrance, and Chambers of Commerce to provide unified French business support for international development.
- Chambres de commerce et d'industrie (French Chambers of Commerce and Industry)corePartnership within Team France Export initiative combining Business France, Bpifrance, and Chambers of Commerce to provide unified French business support for international development.
- French Government / République FrançaiseflagshipBusiness France is the national agency for internationalization of the French economy, mandated by the French government to support international development of French enterprises and prospect/attract foreign investment to France.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ubifrance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE): Switzerland's official Swiss government agency for export promotion and location promotion (FDI into Switzerland). Closely mirrors Business France's dual export + investment mandate, with comparable global consultancy-driven service delivery and federal ownership.
- Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany's federal agency for international trade and investment promotion, owned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. Most direct EU counterpart to Business France, competing head-to-head for the same multinational FDI projects and German/French exporter mandates.
- Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA): Dutch national FDI agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, focused on attracting foreign companies to invest in the Netherlands. Directly comparable for Business France's investment-promotion half (Welcome platform, Choose France), with overlapping client base of multinationals evaluating European locations.
- Italian Trade Agency (ITA): Italy's government agency supporting Italian companies' internationalization and promoting Italian exports and inbound investment. Operates with similar mandate, public ownership, and global field office structure as Business France.
- KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency): Korea's national trade and investment promotion agency under the Ministry of Trade. Comparable mandate (export development of Korean SMEs + FDI attraction into Korea), global office footprint, and government-owned operating model mirror Business France's structure.
- JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japan's national trade promotion and investment attraction agency. Directly comparable to Business France as a government-backed entity supporting Japanese exporters abroad and inbound FDI into Japan, with a similarly large global office network and consolidated mandate post-merger of trade and investment functions.
- ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones: Spain's national public corporation for export promotion and FDI attraction. Functions as the Spanish equivalent of Business France, providing a public-sector trade and investment promotion platform with a global office network, structured programs, and corporate resources for SMEs.
Broad incumbents
- UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT): UK government department with international trade and investment attraction responsibilities. Comparable to Business France as the UK equivalent national entity, though organized as a full ministry rather than an agency, giving it broader policy reach but a less specialized delivery focus.
- SelectUSA (U.S. Department of Commerce): U.S. federal program within the Department of Commerce promoting and facilitating business investment in the United States. Comparable investment-promotion remit to Business France (with limited outbound export mandate), serving as a major counterpart in the global competition for FDI.
- CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade): China's national foreign trade and investment promotion body. Comparable mandate in promoting Chinese exports and inbound investment via a global chamber network; though larger in scale, structurally analogous in being government-affiliated with end-to-end promotion capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ubifrance social profiles
Digital presenceUbifrance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ubifrance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ubifrance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ubifrance 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 Ubifrance
What does Ubifrance do?
Business France (formerly Ubifrance) is the French national agency for the internationalization of the French economy. It supports French companies in launching internationally and conquering new markets, prospects and accompanies foreign investors establishing operations in France, and operates the V.I.E (Volontariat International en Entreprise) program to help companies recruit young talent for international assignments. The agency also runs the Team France Export initiative with Bpifrance and French Chambers of Commerce.
Is Ubifrance a public or private company?
Ubifrance is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Ubifrance founded?
Ubifrance was founded in 2004. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Ubifrance based?
Ubifrance is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Ubifrance make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funding.
Who are Ubifrance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), Italian Trade Agency (ITA), KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) and ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones. Broad incumbents are UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), SelectUSA (U.S. Department of Commerce) and CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade).
Does Ubifrance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ubifrance.
What industry is Ubifrance in?
Ubifrance's product category is Government Trade Promotion Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAMAD, Investment Promotion & FDI Facilitation, with a secondary code of BPADAAAA, United Nations System & Specialized Agencies. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8888.