French economy is shipshape thanks to €1bn cruise liner

A €1 billion cruise liner with five swimming pools, ten restaurants and 21 bars is being credited with sending the French economy minister on holiday in a good mood.

Bruno Le Maire may not be boarding the MSC Euribia for its maiden voyage this month but he is indebted to the ship for helping to ensure a 2.6 per cent increase in French exports in the second quarter, compared with the previous three months.

The 184,011-tonne liner, which was built in Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast, was delivered to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the Swiss cruise line, in June, which meant that it counted in statistics for the second quarter.

Before leaving Paris for his summer break in southwestern France, Le Maire said the