- Title: SAUDI-VALLS/FORUM Saudi-French business forum held in Riyadh
- Date: 13th October 2015
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 12, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF RITZ CARLTON HOTEL BANNER, READING (English and Arabic) "THE SECOND SAUDI-FRENCH BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FORUM" AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, MANUEL VALLS, SAYING: "I would like this evening to address our Saudi friends, a simple message, come to Fra
- Embargoed: 28th October 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAE5ALOFCN0OTID74BA9YKKTKZF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The French-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum was held in Riyadh on Monday (October 12), with the French Prime Minister among officials praising cooperation between the two countries.
"I would like this evening to address our Saudi friends, a simple message, come to France, come to invest in our country at the hearth of Europe. This is the right time, more than ever. It's the best time because my country is reforming," Prime Minister Manuel Valls said, calling for greater investment in France.
Valls addressed a major protest held in Roissy last week where violence broke out amongst demonstrating Air France employees.
"Regarding the events that happen last week at the airline company Air France. The events, the images that went around the world, around the planet. Feeding very quickly an old idea, an old cliché that would like that France be blocked, obstructed and sometimes unable to reform itself. These events have nothing to do with what Air France is all about, and besides, a great majority of the French people have been shocked by this unacceptable violence," said Valls.
The Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry, Tawfiq Al Rabiah, stressed the strong relations between the two countries.
"The trade exchange volume between the two countries exceeded 12 billion euros in 2014. France also occupies third place among the largest investors in the Kingdom with capital investment amounting to about 14 billion euros in a number of industrial and various service activities. The Saudi invested capital in France amounted to about 700 million euros," said Rabiah.
During the visit, the two countries signed a number of agreements, according to the Saudi state news agency. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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