Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will inaugurate this year's Mipim trade fair at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, the Reed Midem organisation announced on Thursday.
Mipim, which will be held from 10 to 13 March, 2020, will feature a keynote speech by Sarkozy at 3pm on the opening day, Tuesday 10 March.
'This event translates Mipim's ambition to become the leading summit for forward thinking on major urban issues,' the fair organisers said in a statement.
Sarkozy - who later this year is due to stand trial on corruption charges - was French president from 2007 to 2012, when he lost out to the Socialist party candidate, François Hollande. He is known for his committed vision of geopolitical and territorial issues, and for his major achievements such as the Grand Paris project, future-oriented investments, and a number of major popular events in France (such as the Euro 2016 Football Championship and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games).
His approach to demographic issues and major territorial balances will provide food for thought for the 28,000 visitors expected to attend the 31st edition of Mipim 2020 and its central theme 'The Future is Human', according to Reed Midem.
