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Egypt to Expand Trade Relations with Iran
An Egyptian trade delegation left for Iran on November 17 for talks on enhancing commercial ties between the two countries, the official Middle East News Agency reported.
The delegation, led by Khaled abu Ismail, chief of Egypt's General Federation of Chambers of Commerce, represents a number of business leaders in the country.
Ismail was quoted as saying that "Egypt and Iran stand out among the region's biggest economies," adding that during the five-day visit, the delegation will meet Iranian officials to explore bilateral cooperation in new fields.
He said that the trade volume between Egypt and Iran stands at a meagre 25 million U.S. dollars. "This does not match the economic potential of the two countries," he added.
Tehran severed diplomatic relations with Cairo after Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. But the two countries have made joint efforts to warm their relations in recent years, starting from expanding trade ties.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has expressed hope that he could visit Egypt to meet with President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's pro-government Al Ahram daily reported on Tuesday.
Khatami voiced his intention during a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Obeid on the sidelines of the ninth summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which concluded on Monday in the Qatari capital of Doha.
Iran and Egypt have "historic, stable, good and deeply-rooted ties," the Iranian president was quoted as saying.
Iran hopes that "the current good will" cherished by the two sides will help promote bilateral and regional cooperation, Khatami said.
He added that as two major countries in the Islamic world, Iran and Egypt need to maintain good ties.
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