Francophonie strategic priorities proposed by Jean-Louis Roy

Jean-Louis Roy has proposed a strategic realignment of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) to focus on four primary pillars of cooperation: economy, education, culture, and governance. This proposal comes as the organization prepares for two major summits, one in Cambodia in November and another in Canada in the fall of 2028.

Regarding economic policy, Roy argues that while private sector groups like the Alliance des patronats francophones exist, they do not constitute a formal economic policy. He suggests that Francophone governments must utilize their legal and regulatory powers to stimulate activity within the international Francophone space.

To achieve this, he proposes the creation of a subsidiary body called the ‘Institut francophone du développement économique’. This institute would feature an autonomous council comprising public sector officials, private sector representatives from the OIF and the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), and civil society. The institute's goals would include harmonizing dispersed economic activities and developing legal instruments to facilitate trade between member nations.