Minister for Defence Industry visits France

03 Nov 2017 Media release

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, travelled to Paris from 1–2 November 2017 to meet France’s new Minister for the Armed Forces, Ms Florence Parly, to discuss bilateral defence materiel cooperation.

Minister Pyne said establishing this new relationship early was important to the future strategic direction of Australia’s defence industry.

“France is one of Australia’s most important defence relationships on continental Europe and has substantial experience in maintaining a sovereign defence industry,” Minister Pyne said.

“The $50 billion Future Submarine Program represents a strategic partnership between Australia and France the will last for generations to come,” he said.

“We have much to learn and share with each other as we seek the same goal – a sovereign defence capability which will in turn create jobs and spur growth in the economy.”

“The relationship is by no means one way and during my visit I have sought to promote Australia’s own world class defence exports to France,” he said.

Minister Pyne also met with the new Director-General of the Direction Générale de l’Armements, General Joël Barre – the head of France’s defence procurement and technology agency.

“Australia and France are looking to explore wider areas of science and technology cooperation,” Minister Pyne said.

“Our bilateral defence materiel cooperation goes from strength to strength and I enjoyed discussing a range of new opportunities with General Barre.

As part of the visit Minister Pyne also met with French and Australian industry and Australia’s defence attaches gathered in Paris from across the region to discuss opportunities to collaborate on future Defence capability.

“Our defence attaches are some of our best and brightest, and they play the vital role of promoting our exports overseas.” Minister Pyne said.

“I impressed upon them the government’s firm commitment to making defence industry a vital part of the defence of Australia, as well as a pillar of the Australian economy into the future,” he said.