Geopolitics of Infrastructures: Soft Power Through Hard Assets

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Dear Sir or Madam,

The ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business and the IRENE Center for Negotiation & Mediation are pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar on the theme: “Geopolitics of Infrastructures: Soft Power through Hard Assets”.

The session will be held in English on December 3rd, 2025, from 8:30 to 9:45 AM (CEST) on Zoom, and will be moderated by Thomas FRIANG, Executive Director, ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business.

Our featured speakers involve:

Julien MICHEL - Managing-Director for Energy & Transportation, Natixis
Denis SIMONNEAU - Diplomat, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Former Director for International Affairs and Executive Committee Member, Engie
Mounir CORM - Directeur général adjoint et associé-fondateur de Vauban Infrastructure partners
Holy RANAIVOZANANY - Deputy Executive Director, Africa-Europe Foundation (tbc)

In today’s fragmented global order, infrastructure has become a geopolitical battleground. From energy corridors to digital backbones and high-speed transport routes, the contest to build, control, and connect is as strategic as it is physical. The European Union’s Global Gateway and China’s Belt and Road Initiative exemplify this new diplomacy of steel and fiber optics. In this webinar, we will explore how infrastructures shape influence—and how influence, in turn, enables infrastructure leadership.

Please register to confirm your participation and receive the Zoom link.

Ahead of the conference, we invite you to visit the Institute's website and follow our LinkedIn page for regular updates.

We look forward to welcoming you online.

Warm regards,

The Team of ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business

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Florence Zheng
Staff ESSEC Alumni

Geopolitics of Infrastructures: Soft Power Through Hard Assets

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