Egypt, Japan Seek to Foster Bilateral Cooperation: Trade Min.

By Ali Abou Dashish and Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, March 11 (SEE) – Trade Ministry strives to enhance trade cooperation with Japan.

Minister of Trade and Industry Eng. Amr Nassar stressed the government's keenness to attract more foreign investments to work in the Egyptian and African markets and export to the regional and international markets too.Nassar pointed out that Egypt's presidency of the African Union this year represents an important opportunity to transfer economic relations between Egypt and Japan.

During a meeting with a Japanese business delegation in Cairo, the minister said that the Japanese side is studying ways to establish a Japanese industrial zone in Egypt in the economic zone in the Gulf of Suez.The Suez industrial zone includes a large number of major Japanese industries.

Nassar noted that the project will contribute to enhancing industrial cooperation between Egypt and Japan.

The minister pointed out the importance of enhancing the Egyptian-Japanese cooperation in supporting the industrialization of the African countries through establishing industrial partnerships between the public and private sectors in the continent.The meeting was attended by Mr. Masaki Noki, ambassador of Japan in Cairo, and Mohamed Aboul-Enein, vice-president of the Egyptian Business Council.

The Japanese businessmen delegation, currently visiting Cairo, participated in the 11th Conference of the Joint Egyptian-Japanese Business Council held on Monday and the Japan-Egypt Business Forum.

Mr. Hiroyuki Ishigi, chairman of Japan's Foreign Trade Organization (JETRO) and Eng. Hossam Abdel Aziz, advisor to the Minister for Industry Affairs, attended the meeting too.

Aboul-Enein praised the current situation in Egypt, especially the direct transport line between Alexandria and Cape Town.