JEDDAH: A group of leading Saudi and French companies signed 27 memorandum of understanding at an investment forum in Jeddah as French President Emmanuel Macron met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today during his official trip to the Gulf region, where he is visiting Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar between Dec. 3 and 4.

Around 101 Saudi companies and 84 French companies attended six workshops at the forum, which was opened by Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Investment, Saudi Arabia and Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness.

“The memorandums of understanding signed today were a cause for optimism and satisfaction,” Al Falih said in a tweet after the event.

Represenatives of French companies and banks including EDF Renewables, Engie, Sanofi, and BNP Paribas are meeting with chairmen and CEOs of leading Saudi firms including ACWA Power, Banque Saudi Fransi, Riyad Bank, and Saudi Military Industries Co. Officials from the Public Investment Fund and Royal Commission of AlUla among others are also participating in the forum. 

Eng. Walid Abukhaled @SAMIDefenseCEO participated in the opening ceremony of the Saudi-French Investment Forum, organized by @InvestSaudi to showcase the promising investment opportunities in the Kingdom with French investors

— الشركة السعودية للصناعات العسكرية (@SAMIDefense) December 4, 2021

Below is the agenda for the one-day forum: