France to invest in various Saudi sectors
Macron looks to possible investment in technology, renewable energy, health and tourism sectors
The crown prince of Saudi Arabia is making his first official visit to France. No big weapons contracts are expected to be signed during the visit of Mohammad Bin Salman, but a “strategic partnership” is to be announced today with French President Emmanuel Macron. French media said the prince arrived on Sunday.
The 32-year-old prince has instigated major reforms to shed the kingdom’s austere image.
Changes include giving women the right to drive, introducing concerts and promising movie theatres.
France hopes to join in that march toward the future by possibly investing in sectors like technology, renewable energy, health and tourism that Saudi Arabia wants to develop, an official with Macron’s office said.
Unesco heritage site
That includes developing Unesco heritage desert site.
A visit to ‘Station F’, a huge Left Bank incubator for startups, is on the crown prince’s agenda.
The war in Yemen would be
a discussed, along with the war in Syria and the fight against terrorism and terrorist financing, the French official said.
Private time in France is also on the royal schedule, although details are scarce.
The royal family owns luxurious property in France, including a mansion on the Riviera.
Prince Mohammad comes to France after a nearly threeweek-long trip to the United States, preceded by a three-day visit to Britain.
The prince ended his US travels with more than $2.3 billion (Dh8.4 billion) in promised arms sales and $1.3 billion in artillery.
France, traditionally a major arms supplier of the Saudis, dismissed questions about big arms contracts during this trip.
“We are absolutely not disappointed” in the absence of weapons deals, the official from Macron’s office insisted.
“We want to be part of this new dimension” being developed by the crown prince, which gives way to “new cooperation, less directed toward isolated contracts and more to investments in the future.”
The official was not authorised to speak publicly ahead of the visit.