OUR PASSION, FRANCE
OUR MISSION, THE WORLD
Sophie Sidos Vicat
Sophie Sidos is a representative of the seventh generation of descendants of Louis Vicat, the inventor of artificial cement in 1817.
She began her career within the Vicat Group in 1992 in the management control department. A few years later, she took on the role of Commercial Manager for Cement within the PACA regional division, becoming the first woman to hold this position.
She then progressed within the company, taking on various roles. In 2006, she was appointed to the Group’s Board of Directors. She is now the Vice President of Parfininco, the family holding company of the Vicat Group.
She has made environmental, societal, and social concerns central to the strategy of the Vicat Group and, in this capacity, chairs the CSR Committee.
In 2017, on the occasion of the bicentennial of the invention of artificial cement, Sophie Sidos established the Louis Vicat Corporate Foundation, which she now chairs.
Particularly sensitive to inclusion issues, Sophie Sidos co-leads the Isère “La France, une chance. Les entreprises s’engagent” club, initiated by President Emmanuel Macron.
A strong advocate for her region, she was elected President of MEDEF Isère in 2021. Inclusion and the economic and ecological transition are her top priorities.
In July 2023, she became President of the French Foreign Trade Advisors.
She was also appointed Co-President of the Europe and International Commissions for MEDEF National.
She serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of Business France.
Sophie Sidos was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2020.
In 2025, she was elevated to the rank of Officer in the French National Order of Merit.
AN EXCEPTIONAL NETWORK
4,900 businesswomen and men, experts in the international field of promoting France’s development, for over 120 years. Present in every region of France and in more than 152 countries.
The Conseillers du Commerce extérieur de la France (Foreign Trade Advisors of France, or CCEs) benevolently share their experience working for the development and influence of France. They carry out concrete actions on a daily basis in partnership with public and private players who have a role in promoting and supporting the internationalization of French companies. Appointed by the Prime Minister, CCEs are vested with four missions by public authorities.
OUR FOUR MISSIONS
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ADVISING PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
CCEs inform and advise public authorities through their regular participation in strategic council meetings of the government and regions, as well as with French embassies abroad, to which they forward their analyses, opinions and recommendations on international trade or specific market issues.
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SUPPORTING BUSINESSES
The CCEs support French businesses in their international development through the long-term monitoring of structured projects or in a more limited fashion through operational advice and networks introductions. The CCEs also contribute to the modernization of the support mechanism for foreign trade.
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TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
The CCEs raise young people’s international awareness by sharing their experiences with undergraduate and graduate students or by sharing their know-how in the context of specific actions.
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PROMOTING THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF FRANCE
The CCEs promote France’s assets and facilitate investment decisions from foreign companies throughout France, through contacts they enjoy with business leaders and economic authorities in the countries where they operate.
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152 COUNTRIES
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4900 CCE WORLDWIDE
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150 MENTORING LEAD CONSULTANTS WORLDWIDE
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290 PARTNERING EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS
AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF BENEVOLENT ACTIONS
- Participation in a range of economic advisory bodies, at the ministerial level, as well as in the regions and at French embassies abroad.
- Commissioning of surveys, publication of memorandums and recommendations.
- Organization of seminars, forums and symposiums.
- Mentoring SMEs internationally.
- Supporting the development of the students who have graduated and want an international experience through the V.I.E. program (Volunteering for International Experience).
- Coaching and promoting awareness with young people about international careers.
