France sends in heavyweights in bid for Aussie submarine deal

Canberra

FRANCE has sent its largest business delegation in nearly two decades to Australia, touting the economic benefits of its bid for the A$50 billion (S$51.7 billion) contract to build a fleet of 12 stealth submarines for Australia.

Executives from French corporate giants Airbus, BNP Paribas, Thales and dozens more arrive in Canberra on Tuesday for meetings with top Australian government and business figures.

France is up against Japan and Germany in bidding for one of the world's most lucrative defence contracts. A decision is expected within months, ahead of an Australian national election in which the deal and the jobs it will create is expected to be a key issue for the conservative government. The French visit, which includes top officials from France's state-controlled naval contractor DCNS, is part of a process of growing strategic and economic ties with Au…