The political situation in Syria was a major topic of conversation when Khalaf Al Habtoor met with a number of high profile French politicians in Paris on February 6, 2012.
“I’m most concerned about the current situation in Syria and believe something needs to be done about it urgently,” the Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group said at the meeting. “I know that France has similar fears and we share a common concern for the people of Syria who are suffering greatly at this time.”
The well-known Dubai businessman and political commentator was speaking at a dinner held at the Le Dali, in the Le Meurice Hotel, Paris.
It was attended by Alain Marsaud who is a member of the Union for Popular Movement (UMP) and the party representative in the 2012 parliamentary elections for French nationals living abroad. He was also head of the Central Counter-Terrorism division to the Public Prosecutor of Paris in the 1980s; Jean-Pierre Bechter who is the advisor of Serge Dassault, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Dassault Group and the Mayor of Corbeil-Essonnes; and Thierry Mariani, the Minister in Charge of Transport for the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable development, Transport and Housing, and a member of UMP. All three men have strong political influence in France.
Al Habtoor declared his trust in the UAE’s economy and encouraged the French companies and investors to expand in his country. “My country’s economy is witnessing constant growth and offers stability, security and great infra-structure, which makes it a safe-haven for investors”.At the end of the dinner, Al Habtoor extended an invitation to the French gentlemen to visit the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier also that day, Al Habtoor met with Gilles Schnepp, the Chairman and CEO of the Legrand Group over breakfast. Schnepp, who has occupied his position since March 2006, discussed future possible collaboration between Legrand and the Al Habtoor Group, mainly on the latter’s latest hotel projects in the Palm Jumeirah and on Sheikh Zayed Road. The French group specialises in electrical and digital building infrastructure and operates globally in Europe, the US and the eastern nations.
