Caretaker Minister of Industry George Boujikian, on Monday visited the headquarters of the French Foreign Ministry, where he met with French Minister of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness, and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht. 

During the meeting, Ministers Boujikian and Becht affirmed their adherence to the historical relations between Lebanon and France and to the constant efforts to develop and strengthen them.

Boujikian thanked Becht for the French initiatives in support of Lebanon, especially in its darkest of circumstances.

"France hosts thousands of Lebanese families, and the Lebanese partake in a fundamental and constructive role in the French political and economic life. Likewise, the French people play an essential role in Lebanon; the French hospital, university, and educational institutions are also part and parcel of the Lebanese Renaissance,” Boujikian said. 

The Lebanese Minister of Industry also hoped "to establish joint investments between Lebanese and French businessmen en route to integrated technological and export industries."

Talks between the pair further dealt with the steps needed to be taken, in the short term, in a bid to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, in preparation for putting the Ministry of Industry's rescue plan into action at a later stage.