French arms exports rise 13%

"Deals with countries including Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco have pushed French arms sales up to their highest level since 2000."

"The increase of 13 per cent on last year's sales follows a drive by Nicolas Sarkozy, the country's president, to support defence export companies. The government argues that the industry provides 50,000 jobs in France."

"French companies took new orders worth $9.7bn, meaning they have about seven per cent of the world's arms market, according to the defence ministry's annual report released on Monday."