US says Egypt strongly back to International Investment Map

The United States will continue its strategic relations with Egypt for the stability of the turbulent region, Candace Putnam, Director of Egypt Affairs Office at the State Department, told a group of Egyptian reporters.

Putnam said Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC), held in March, had brought Egypt back to the international investment map strongly.

The US seeks to build a larger partnership with Egypt in the military domain, she added.

She touched on economic and trade relations, saying that trade talks will be held between the two countries in the summer to be a good foundation for “free trade zone” negotiations.

The US will strongly participate in the next session of the EEDC, she said. The State Department has not received yet an invitation to the inauguration of the New Suez Canal from Egypt although Russia and France had, she noted.

Furthermore, Putnam said the US is dealing with Egypt’s elected president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Egyptian government to promote ties between the two countries in all domains.

Washington hopes that Egypt holds the parliamentary polls to complete its democratic transition, the US official said.

The US does not support the Muslim Brotherhood group as mistakenly believed by many quarters in Egypt, Putnam stressed.

Meanwhile, US Deputy Assistant Secretary Larry Schwartz said the US supports everything that can help expand the base of the Egyptian economy and offer more opportunities to the youth.