Sisi discusses combating terrorism with French Interior Minister

CAIRO – 26 October 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi concluded his visit to France on Thursday by meeting French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb. Sisi discussed with Collomb means of enhancing cooperation between Cairo and Paris in preserving security and combating terrorism and extremism.

Sisi will also meet with representatives of France's state-owned electricity company Electricite de France (EDF). EDF is considered the world's largest nuclear power company.

Sisi arrived in Paris Monday, and commenced discussing bilateral cooperation, in addition to regional and international mutual concerns during a four-day official visit.

Sisi started his visit to Paris by a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Elysee Palace on Tuesday and they discussed cooperation in economics, military, education, travel, and counter-terrorism.

During his visit in Paris, Sisi held a number of meetings with the head of the French National Assembly (the lower house of Parliament), the head of the French Senate, Foreign Minister Jean Yves Laudrian, and Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.

Sisi also met with a number of French businessmen to boost economic cooperation with the French side, since France is the biggest investor in Egypt with €3.5 billion ($4.1 billion) worth of investments, which makes it the seventh biggest importer to Egypt. Meanwhile, there are 160 French corporations operating on Egyptian soil; employing more than 30,000 Egyptians in all fields.

Sisi’s visit is the first official one to the Elysee Palace since Macron took office and the third to France. In November 2014, the Egyptian president paid an official visit for three days, during which he met with former President François Hollande. In November 2015, Sisi attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21, in Paris.