Iran has signed 200 million US dollars worth of business and trade contracts with Egypt during an exhibition of Iranian products in Cairo, an official of the Islamic republic said here on November 8.

The contracts and deals signed between Iranian and Egyptian companies will be implemented in the coming three or four years, Iranian Deputy Minister of Commerce Mojabati Khosrotaj told a press conference on the seven-day exhibition closed on Sunday.

Khosrotaj, also chairman of Iran's Exhibitions Authority, said the exhibition "achieved remarkable success" toward the improvement of trade relations after 20 years of disruption.

The official, whet just as their Egyptian counterparts attach importance to the Iranian market.

Tehran severed diplomatic ties with Cairo in 1979 after Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel, but did not cut off the economic relations. Since the moderate Iranian President Mohammad Khatami took office in August 1997, the two countries have been exerting efforts to improve the political relations and seek ways of enhancing economic, investment and trade cooperation.

The latest exhibition of Iranian products was organized by the Iranian Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade. The products included car and car parts, medicines and medical equipment, machines, food, chemicals, electric appliances and handicrafts.

Under agreements reached between the two sides, Iran will participate in the Cairo International Fair due to open in March while an exhibition of Egyptian products will be held in Iran in April, Khosrotaj said.

Referring to the meetings with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, Minister of Industry Moustafa el-Rafay and other Egyptian officials, Khosrotaj said the meetings were "fruitful and constructive."

He said he and Moussa dealt with ways of expanding bilateral relations in the various fields.