الرياض وباريس.. تقاطع الرؤيتين

The visions of "Saudi Arabia 2030" and "France 2030" may seem similar in name and target date alone, but looking beyond the title reveals much deeper economic intersections. Saudi Arabia aims, through its vision, to build a more diversified economy, increase the contribution of non-oil sectors, develop new sectors, and attract investment, technology, and knowledge. On the French side, the goal is to rebuild its industrial and technological capabilities, enhancing its competitiveness in future industries, from clean energy to artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Thus, the two countries do not start from the same point, but they are moving in directions that clearly intersect. In my opinion, this is the most important economic entry point for understanding the recent visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to France. There is a pressing question in both visions about who will own the industries and technologies of the economy of the future? Therefore, the relationship between Riyadh and Paris goes beyond the idea of trade and investment in their traditional forms.

After decades of globalization and the transfer of parts of industrial production to Asia, major economies have become more concerned with industrial security, supply chains, and the ability to produce strategic technologies locally. France 2030 clearly reflects this shift; it aims to support future industries, reduce industrial emissions, produce electric and hybrid vehicles, and develop low-carbon aviation, alongside investing in strategic technologies. At the same time, Saudi Vision 2030 is moving in a different direction at the starting point, but converges in outcome, by building a larger industrial base, localizing value chains, increasing local content, and transforming the Kingdom into a hub for industry, logistics, and investment. Here, France becomes a partner with industrial and technological knowledge that the sectors the Kingdom aims to build locally need, away from traditional trade exchange.

France 2030 bets on a mix that combines nuclear energy, hydrogen, and decarbonizing industry, which is clearly evident through its efforts to develop small and innovative nuclear reactors, achieve a leading position in green hydrogen, and reduce industrial emissions. On the Saudi side, despite its position as one of the most important traditional energy countries in the world, it is simultaneously building significant capabilities in renewable energy, hydrogen, and low-carbon technologies as part of its carbon reduction goals for 2060. Here, one of the most important integrative relationships between the two visions emerges; France possesses an advanced technological and industrial base, while the Kingdom has the resources, capital, geographical location, and capacity to produce energy on a large scale. Therefore, energy may be one of the most important areas where the relationship shifts from buying and selling to building shared value chains.

Moreover, France today views artificial intelligence as part of its economic and technological sovereignty, seeking to enhance its capabilities in data centers, computing, research, and development. In contrast, the Kingdom has come to see artificial intelligence, data, and digital infrastructure as drivers of new economic growth. Although the strengths of both parties differ, with France having universities, researchers, companies, technical expertise, and access to the European market, Saudi Arabia possesses significant investment capacity, competitive energy, a rapidly transforming market, and ambition to build massive digital infrastructure. These differences are what make the economic partnership more logical.

We cannot overlook the cultural aspect; France has one of the oldest and strongest tourism and cultural industries in the world, while the Kingdom is working to build a tourism, cultural, and entertainment sector that had a limited economic presence a few years ago. Cooperation in Al-Ula is a clear example that the relationship can transcend financial investment to include the transfer of expertise in destination management, heritage protection, and building cultural and tourism products. Notably, during the recent visit, the direction began to shift in the opposite way. This is evident from the announcement of investments worth 6 billion euros to develop three entertainment projects near Paris, reflecting a significant change in the nature of the relationship. Saudi capital and projects themselves have begun to seek opportunities within the French economy. This confirms that the maturity of economic relations is also measured by the ability of its companies and investors to transform into international players and build assets and economic interests abroad. From here, the specificity of the Saudi-French relationship in the current phase can be understood. Each country has its motivations, but the area of common interests between them is expanding. Thus, the economic value of the recent visit has significant dimensions that go beyond the number of agreements signed, and even the billions of announced investments.