Egypt to become trade substitute for Israel: Palestinian PM

CAIRO - 13 October 2019: Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that his visit to Cairo will pave the way for enhancing trade exchange and bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Palestine.

Shtayyeh stressed that Palestine is seeking to expand the trade exchange and enhance the trade volume between Egypt and Palestine.

In his phone call with Amr Khalil in "dmc Evening ",Shtayyeh added that the Paris Economic Agreement allows the import of cement,construction materials in all its forms, agricultural crops and electrical appliances from Egypt.

Shtayyeh revealed that a list of goods imported by Palestine from Israel will be presented to the Egyptian side as the alternative market, pointing out that Palestine will coordinate with Egypt for possible cooperation in the gas field and all oil-related issues.

Palestine consumes a monthly bill of approximately 3 million liters of gasoline a day currently imported from Israel but will be arranged with the Iraqi, Jordanian or Egyptian side.

The Palestinian prime minister explained that the trade balance between the two neighboring countries does not exceed $160 million, which is unsatisfactory and does not reflect the strong ties between the two nations.

It is worth mentioning that Prime Minister MoutafaMadbouli met with his Palestinian counterpartShtayyeh on Oct. 7 in Cairo, where they discussed the bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, according to a statement from the Egyptian cabinet.

Shtayyeh, who is heading a big ministerial delegation, visitedEgypt upon the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart.

Shtayyeh's acceptance of Madbouli's invitation to form a high-level delegation, comprising 12 ministerial portfolios, demonstrates the former's keenness to build bridges of political and executive cooperation between the two countries and to bring these links to the highest levels of coordination, said Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh.

In September 2019, President Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness on the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state, in accordance with the international accords.

Sisi met with Abbas, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman BassamRadi said, on the sidelines of the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

For his part, Abbas expressed his appreciation for Egypt's efforts and historic unchangeable stance towards the Palestinian cause, highlighting the depth of relations between the peoples of the two countries.

Abbas also praised the Egyptian efforts to achieve reconciliation between Palestinian factions, affirming willingness to continue the coordination with Egypt on various issues of mutual concern, Radi said.

The presidents also discussed the developments of a number of regional and Arab issues.