CCI France Liban

What CCI France Liban does

CCI France Liban (also known as MEREF) is a bilateral chamber of commerce and non-profit business association headquartered at the ESA Business School campus in Beirut, Lebanon. Founded in 2015, it operates as part of the CCI France International network — the largest network of French chambers abroad, spanning 121 chambers in 98 countries with access to 33,000 companies, 4,000 events annually, and approximately 1,200 exclusive member benefits. The chamber serves approximately 170 member companies across French firms established in Lebanon and Lebanese firms seeking French partnerships, with a tiered membership structure spanning Active, Gold, Premium, Platinum, and Startup categories.

Its core service offering is a relationship-brokering and market-access platform rather than a technology product. Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring annual membership subscriptions across five tiers, event participation and sponsorship (notably the Espace France pavilion at Project Lebanon and HORECA Lebanon trade shows), and fee-based business services including payroll portage (portage salarial), visa accompaniment, technical expert support, and training programs delivered with ESA Business School. The LeBooster Beyrouth startup accelerator extends the offering to early-stage ventures, and members access the CCIFI Connect mobile application for cross-border networking across approximately 95 countries. Distribution is event-led and community-led, leveraging high-profile business dinners (e.g., the annual Dîner d'Affaires at the Résidence des Pins), exploratory missions to Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and other regional markets, and partnerships with the French Embassy and Business France. The organization is led by a 12-member board of directors under President Maxence Duault, with a lean team of approximately 7 employees.

Name

CCI France Liban

Legal name

CCI France Liban

Website

https://ccifranceliban.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CCI France Liban is a non-profit bilateral chamber of commerce in Beirut serving approximately 170 French and Lebanese member companies through tiered memberships, networking events (Project Lebanon, HORECA), trade pavilions, and business services including visa support, payroll portage, and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), National Security and International Affairs (928)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACAGAI

Global Contractor Engagement & Cross-Border Payments

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Contract Staffing & Independent Contractor Management

SECONDARYBPAIAIAL

Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Foreign Affairs & Diplomatic Services

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Bilateral trade services
• Business networking
• Market entry support
• Membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions at multiple tiers (Active, Gold, Premium, Platinum, Startup) providing access to networking, directory services, event participation, and business support services.
2. Event Participation and Sponsorship: Revenue from event hosting including Project Lebanon, HORECA Lebanon trade shows, business dinners, and the Espace France pavilion at major exhibitions.
3. Business Services: Fees for specialized services including payroll portage (portage salarial), visa accompaniment, technical expert support, and training programs in partnership with ESA Business School.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CCI France Liban is a bilateral chamber of commerce that connects French and Lebanese businesses through a tiered membership program and a portfolio of support services including payroll portage, visa assistance, market-entry support, technical expertise referrals, training with ESA Business School, and the LeBooster Beyrouth startup accelerator. It organizes the Espace France pavilion at Lebanese trade shows (Project Lebanon, HORECA Lebanon) and provides members access to the CCIFI Connect mobile platform and global CCI France International privilege network.

Product overview

CCI France Liban (also known as MEREF) is a Chamber of Commerce and Industry that serves as a networking and business development platform for French and Lebanese businesses. The organization operates as a membership-based network offering services including visa assistance, payroll portage, business support, and training programs in partnership with ESA Business School. It organizes the 'Espace France' pavilion at major Lebanese trade events and runs the LeBooster Beyrouth startup accelerator. Members access a directory (Annuaire des membres), exclusive privileges program, and the CCIFI Connect mobile app for cross-border networking across the 95-country CCIFI network. The chamber publishes newsletters and maintains a job board for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Portage Salarial (Payroll Portage) Payroll portage service enabling French expatriates and freelancers to work in Lebanon while maintaining French social benefits. Targeted at French professionals and independent contractors operating in Lebanon.
• Accompagnement Visa (Visa Assistance) Visa assistance service helping members navigate visa procedures for Lebanon and France. Targeted at member companies and their expatriate employees requiring cross-border mobility support.
• Appui Experts techniques (Technical Experts Support) Technical experts support service connecting members with French technical expertise. Targeted at member companies needing access to specialized French technical knowledge.
• Appui Entreprises (Business Support) Business support service assisting companies with market entry and development in Lebanon. Targeted at French and international companies seeking to establish or expand operations in the Lebanese market.
• LeBooster Beyrouth Startup accelerator program supporting entrepreneurial initiatives in Beirut, part of the CCIFI network. Targeted at early-stage Lebanese startups and entrepreneurs.
• Formations (Training Programs) Training programs offered in partnership with ESA Business School for professional development. Targeted at member companies' employees and Lebanese professionals seeking French business education.
• Annuaire des membres (Member Directory) Member directory tool providing contact information and company descriptions for all chamber members. Targeted at the chamber's member companies and prospective partners seeking connections within the Franco-Lebanese business community.
• CCIFI Connect Mobile Application Mobile application for the CCI FI network providing member directory access, business networking, and exclusive partner benefits across 95 countries. Targeted at chamber members requiring cross-border networking capabilities.
• Espace France (France Pavilion at Trade Shows) Designated exhibition space at major Lebanese trade shows (Project Lebanon, HORECA Lebanon) showcasing French and Franco-Lebanese companies. Targeted at French companies and brands seeking visibility in the Lebanese market.
• Membership Subscription (Active, Gold, Premium, Platinum, Startup) Tiered annual membership program with five categories (Active, Gold, Premium, Platinum, Startup) providing access to member directory, networking events, training programs, international privilege network across 58 countries, and visibility benefits. Targeted at French and Lebanese companies seeking to participate in the Franco-Lebanese business community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network of 33,000 companies through CCI France International
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CCI France InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCI France Liban is a member of the CCI France International network, the largest network of French chambers of commerce abroad with 121 chambers in 98 countries, 33,000 companies, 4,000 events annually, 300 committees, and 1,200 exclusive member benefits. The parent organization provides the framework and international connectivity for the Lebanese chamber's activities.
• ESA Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCI France Liban partners with ESA Business School for training programs. The chamber's headquarters is located at ESA's campus in Beirut. Maxence Duault serves as both President of CCI France Liban (MEREF) and Dean of ESA Business School.
• French Embassy in LebanoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCI France Liban maintains close ties with the French Embassy in Lebanon, hosting events at the Résidence des Pins and collaborating with the Service Économique on economic presentations and French-Lebanese trade initiatives.
• Chambre Française de Commerce et d'Industrie du Maroc (CFCIM)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCCI France Liban partners with CFCIM for the Morocco Exploratory Business Mission (October 14-16, 2026). CFCIM is the largest French chamber abroad, present in Morocco for over 110 years with approximately 3,500 member companies. They serve as the reference partner for market access and institutional connections in Morocco.
• CCIFI ConnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationCCIFI Connect is the digital platform of CCI France International, providing a private network for members with business acceleration features, networking capabilities, and exclusive partner benefits across 95 countries. Available on iOS and Android app stores.
• French Chamber of Commerce in Dubai (French Business Council)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCCI France Liban collaborated with the French Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates for the 2021 webinar on Lebanon-Dubai business opportunities, co-organized to explore potential collaboration for Lebanon's economic recovery.
• L'Orient-Le JourminorGTM or Marketing PartnerL'Orient-Le Jour provides regular press coverage of CCI France Liban's business dinners and major events, including the annual Dîner d'Affaires, serving as the chamber's primary media partner for French-language business news in Lebanon.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chambre Française de Commerce et d'Industrie du Maroc (CFCIM): The largest French chamber abroad, operating for over 110 years in Morocco with ~3,500 member companies. Explicitly comparable as a sister bilateral French chamber in MENA and the named partner for CCI France Liban's Morocco exploratory mission.
• British Lebanese Chamber of Commerce: Bilateral UK-Lebanon chamber offering membership, networking, and trade event services to British and Lebanese firms. Operates in the same Beirut market with a similar service catalogue and tiered membership model.
• Italian Chamber of Commerce in Lebanon: Bilateral Italian-Lebanese business chamber offering events, networking, and trade services to Italian and Lebanese firms. Closely comparable in scope, structure, and member profile within the Lebanese market.
• French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates: French-affiliated bilateral chamber in the UAE and a direct sibling in the CCI France International network. Comparable in service mix (membership, events, B2B matchmaking) and target audience (French companies expanding into a regional MENA hub).
• American Chamber of Commerce in Lebanon (AmCham Lebanon): The principal US bilateral business chamber in Lebanon, serving a similar member profile of multinational subsidiaries and Lebanese SMEs seeking US partnership access. Directly comparable in Lebanon-specific networking, events, and advocacy.

Regional players

• Enterprise Greece: Greek government-affiliated trade and investment facilitation agency supporting bilateral business with European and MENA partners. Comparable as a publicly-backed chamber-like entity running exploratory missions, B2B matchmaking, and member services.

Broad incumbents

• Federation of Lebanese Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FCCIAL): The national federation representing all Lebanese chambers of commerce, industry, and agriculture. Comparable as the local incumbent umbrella for bilateral trade activity in Lebanon, though broader in mandate than a single-country-affiliated chamber.
• MEDEF International: The international arm of France's largest employer federation (MEDEF), focused on connecting French business with emerging markets including MENA. Comparable as a higher-level French business ecosystem player facilitating the same cross-border networking CCI France Liban delivers.
• CCI France International: The parent federation coordinating 121 French chambers across 98 countries. Comparable because it is the umbrella for the same member-benefit infrastructure, event programming, and CCIFI Connect platform that CCI France Liban delivers locally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cci-france-liban

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CCI France Liban