The French-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum started its second session Monday evening in the presence of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. The activities of the two-day Forum began with participation of a number of senior officials of the two countries, officials and representatives of the Saudi-French Business Council, as well as a number of experts, businessmen, investors, specialists and academics. At the opening of the forum, which was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah welcomed, on behalf of the Kingdom's leadership and people, the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and his accompanying delegation. Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, in his speech, reviewed relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France, which culminated in recently exchanged visits between the two sides at the highest level, including the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz to France in September 2014, and the French President Francois Hollande's visit to the Kingdom in December of the same year, during which a number of agreements were signed by the business communities of the two countries, in addition to the recent visit of the French President to kingdom in May 2015. Minister of Commerce and Industry mentioned the visit of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, to France in June, 2015, which reflected the strength of relations between the two countries and the firm desire by the two countries to bolster them, as the two countries signed a number of agreements during the visit underlining the level of distinguished relations between the two countries. In turn, the French premier highlighted incentives for boosting investment in his country and challenges ahead. Other speakers at the event included head of the Saudi-French Business Council Dr. Mohammad bin Laden. The Saudi-French Business Opportunities Forum held its first session in Paris in April 2013.
