French delegation will forge links with Gulf companies

Further construction links between France and the Middle East will be forged this week as the French Minister of State in charge of foreign trade spends four days touring the Gulf.

Anne-Marie Idrac, whose four day visit starts today in Saudi Arabia, is also visiting Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. She will be accompanied by a delegation of French companies, many involved in the infrastructure and property construction industries.

France believes there are tremendous opportunities for French tie ups with Gulf projects. Although hit by the financial crisis like elsewhere in the world, particularly resulting in more difficult access to credits, the Gulf economies are regarded as solid and booming in several ambitious projects, especially in the infrastructure sector.

During the visit Mrs Idrac will meet the Secretary General of the GCC in Riyadh as well as the Ministers in charge of foreign trade and the Foreign Ministers of the four countries. Meetings with high ranking managers of big infrastructure projects such as the President of the Transport Department of Abu Dhabi Emirate, the President of the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai, the Saudi Minister of transportation, as well as leading businessmen in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also arranged.

Also on the trip is Philippe Favre, Ambassador at large for international investments and President of the Invest in France Agency, who will be speaking to representatives of investment funds and business to promote France's attractiveness for Gulf countries' investments.