RIYADH: The Federation of Saudi Chambers hosted a meeting between Saudi business owners and a delegation of 100 French companies, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.  The two sides were headed by former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Mohammed bin Laden, president of the Saudi-French Business Council. During the meeting, Raffarin called for greater economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France by providing French companies with opportunities in the Saudi market. He acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role regionally and internationally. The meeting reviewed the strategy of the Saudi-French Business Council and its various efforts, including extending its membership to 150 people.  Bin Laden said that the council obtained approval for French residents in Saudi Arabia to join as members. He noted the council’s role in the development of trade relations between the two countries. The volume of trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and France amounted to SR 43.3 billion ($11.46 billion) in 2022, with Saudi exports to France increasing by 80 percent.