Last autumn, Normandy welcomed an international delegation of high-level foreign dignitaries as part of the Regions – Leading Figures Programme, run by the French Diplomatic and Consular Academy of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
For a week, prominent figures from South Africa, Brazil, Germany and Canada discovered Normandy through its economic, scientific, cultural and historical strengths, in close connection with the Normandy for Peace initiative.
An immersion at the crossroads of innovation, memory and dialogue
From a visit to the ArianeGroup site in Vernon to discussions on proton therapy at the CYCLHAD centre, via the discovery of iconic expertise such as Isigny Sainte-Mère, the delegation explored a Normandy resolutely focused on innovation and international cooperation.
This immersion was also enriched by meaningful places and institutions: the Caen Memorial, the D-Day beaches, the University of Caen Normandy, and the Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Prize for war correspondents... All of these are spaces for reflection where memory becomes a lever for dialogue and transmission.
A programme promoting regional diplomacy
Through the Regions - Leading Figures Programme, Normandy is demonstrating its ability to welcome, engage in dialogue and raise its international profile. This first edition is part of a long-term initiative to bring people together, share knowledge and build peace.
🎥 Watch the interview with the participants
