PARIS
While France's deficit continues to grow, its arms industry is thriving, according to an official report.
Arms exports have increased by more than 40 percent in 2013, revealed a report issued on Tuesday by the French Defense ministry.
"In 2013, arms exports rose by 43 percent to reach 6.87 billion euros (8.84 billion dollars)[compared to the previous year]," reads the report.
According to the report, this increase of orders also created an additional 40,000 jobs. Saudi Arabia is France's main client in 2013, with about 40 percent of total orders.
With this increase in exports, France remains the world's sixth largest exporter of weapons, after Germany, Israel, the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States - by far the world's largest arms exporter.
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