Momtaz Al-Saeed: Egypt, Libya To Prevent Smuggling Processes

Egypt and Libya agreed on taking control of the joint border-crossings to prevent the processes of smuggling goods and commodities which negatively affect the two countries’ domestic industries, besides the negative influence in Egypt’s incomes from the customs and taxes fees.

This came during the meeting which was held yesterday in the headquarters of ministry of finance and attended by the minister of finance, Momtaz Al-Saeed, and his Libyan counterpart Dr Hassan Zaglam. Dr Ashraf Al Arabi, minister of international cooperation and planning, Ayman Gohar, head of minister of finance bureau, and Ahmed Farag Saudi, chairman of custom authority participated in the meeting.

The minister of finance agreed with the Libyan finance minister to take urgent measures, in coordination with the custom authorities in the two countries, to control the commercial outlets between Egypt and Libya; especially Sallum port as the main commercial port between the two countries.

As per the other files which the meeting tackled, the finance minister said it included the Libyan investments in Egypt and the available opportunities to increase them during the coming period, as well the issue of constructing Libya.

He said the Egyptian government keens to support Libya, referring that Egypt is getting ready to help in processes of building the Libyan institutions through providing the technical support plus training the Libyan cadres.

The Libyan minister, on his side, said his country keens on increasing the Libyan investments in the Egyptian market and enhancing the economic cooperation relations, supporting bilateral trade, and providing all the facilities for the participation of the Egyptian countries in re-constructing Libya.