Hollande arrives Egypt Sunday to boost economic ties

French President Francois Hollande will arrive in Egypt on Sunday, his second visit to the country in less than a year, in a trip which will see the signing of a number of bilateral economic agreements.

President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Hollande are expected to sign memorandums of agreement in a number of fields and projects, including training, electricity, generating renewable energy, the Cairo metro, and sewage system projects. The delegation accompanying Hollande will include over 60 French businessmen.

The two presidents will also discuss the crisis in Syria, Libya and Yemen and the French initiative for the Middle East process peace, according to a statement by Egypt’s State Information Service.

The French president was last in Egypt on 6 August, when he attended the inauguration of the new Suez Canal. His visit to Cairo comes as part of a Middle East tour that includes visits to Jordan and Lebanon.

Hollande’s visit will also include meetings with Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Parliamentary Speaker Ali Abdel-Al, local cultural figures, and French expats.

According to the State Information Service, the value of trade between Egypt and France amounts to 2.6 billion euros annually, and France is Egypt’s sixth largest importer.

source: Ahram online