RIYADH: Bilateral trade between France and the Kingdom will increase with the coming visit of French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Anne-Marie Idrac, French minister of state for foreign trade said on Tuesday.
Following talks with Transport Minister Jubara Al-Suraisery, Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Zainal Alireza and Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen, Idrac decorated Khaled Balkheyour, executive president of the Pan-Arab satellite operator “Arabsat” and Khalid Al- Molhem president of Saudi Arabian Airlines with the medal of the Légion d’Honneur Chevalier at a reception hosted by French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot.
“This is all the more important as it is the very first award I am presenting to Saudi businessmen who have participated in the development of economic and trade relations between France and Saudi Arabia,” she said. “The businessmen have contributed to establishing French economic presence in advanced technology sectors.” She pointed out that the companies they head are excellent examples of what can be achieved when people work together.
Idrac said that President Sarkozy’s upcoming visit to the Kingdom shows his deep commitment to strengthening the excellent relations between the two countries. He last visited Saudi Arabia in November 2008 when he held talks with the king. She also pointed out that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and President Sarkozy hold common views on regional security and the current global financial crisis. The visit, she said, would enable France to enter into new areas of cooperation in the field of infrastructure development, especially in the field of transport and renewable energy.
Describing her talks with senior government ministers as “successful”, Idrac said that she was happy to note the Kingdom’s progress in the field of energy, water and aeronautics. “We have offered our friendly hands for the development of renewable energy, waste water management and infrastructure development,” she said, pointing out that France has expertise to offer in diversifying the Kingdom’s economy. She also said that her country could assist with high speed trains between Makkah and Madinah which would be a useful project for Umrah and Haj pilgrims. We understand the special needs of the pilgrims, the cultural environment in the two holy cities as well as the climate in that part of the Kingdom,” she stressed, adding that the trains could be tailor-made to suit the needs of the pilgrims and the holy places.
On behalf of the president of the French Republic, she said that she had conferred the medal on Balkheyour and Al-Molhem as a recognition for their constructive efforts in developing trade and economic relations between the Arab Satellite Communication Organization (Arabsat) and Saudi Arabian Airlines respectively.
Accepting the award, Balkheyour said: “Arabsat and the French satellite communications Industry have strong ties spanning more than thirty years.
Since 2004, we have signed contracts for the fourth, fifth and sixth generations of Arabsat satellites, followed by contracts for ground stations with French companies for manufacturing and launching. The value exceeds $1.6 billion. In addition, we have very close relationships with a number of French channels and bouquets that use Arabsat satellites.
Thanking the French government for his award, Al-Molhem said that Saudi Arabian Airlines had signed a SR10 billion contract with Airbus for the purchas of 58 aircraft with advanced facilities, including A320s, A321s and A330s. The purchases are part of the company’s efforts to modernize its fleet and meet global challenges. “The aircraft will be delivered over the next three years.” He added that the airline was also interested in purchasing Boeing 787 aircraft in the future.
The minister left on Tuesday for Dubai where she will highlight the expertise of French companies with respect to urban and rail transport infrastructures. She will also visit the site of the future green city Masdar, accompanied by representatives from four clusters (Tenerrdis, Innovation Finance, Advancity and System@tic).
On Thursday she will deliver the closing address at a conference on the Paris Financial Centre, organized jointly by the Invest in France Agency and Europlace.
