2nd Franco-GCC Eco. Forum ''positive step''

The second Franco-Gulf Economic Forum had been a positive step towards the promotion of commercial ties between France and the GCC states, said a Kuwaiti official here Friday.Sheikh Nemr Fahad Al-Sabah, Assistant Undersecretary for Commercial Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, told KUNA that the one-day event which recently concluded had showcased both sides' eagerness to bolster economic and commercial ties, affirming that the GCC side expressed interest in using French made technology and products.The official called on the French side to provide lucrative investment opportunities for GCC business personnel, revealing that Kuwait, as a GCC state, was discussing with France the opening of a French commercial bureau in Kuwait by 2012.The forum, said Sheikh Nemr, had focused on problems hindering the trade and commercial ties between both sides, affirming a solution would be found for such obstacles.Kuwait exports to France had reached USD 95 million while Kuwaiti imports from France had reached USD 433 million.The forum witnessed the participation of French and GCC economic officials and came as part of the signed 2008 agreement between the GCC Chamber of Commerce and its' the French-Arab counterpart.