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Sarkozy backs French arms
28.09.09
French arms dealers have benefited from Nicholas Sarkozy's push to win contracts with foreign governments.
While British and US firms have been struggling to maintain their growth, French weapons exports leaped 13% last year to their highest since 2000.
French firms took new orders worth �6.6 billion (£6 billion), although still less than the US, Britain and Russia, it consolidated the country's position.
President Sarkozy adopted a more hard-headed approach to negotiating with foreign leaders after the previous year saw former French colony Morocco snub Rafale warplanes in favour of US Lockheed-Martin F-16s.
Last December, he signed a deal with Brazil worth up to �8.6 billion in what was seen as proof he was spreading France's customer base away from its traditional North African market.
Meanwhile, British and American firms are finding life tougher as the governments in those two countries look to scale back their spending on big military contracts.
