Egypt to see increase in French tourists: Ambassador

CAIRO – 15 July 2017: In a press conference in Alexandria on Thursday, newly-appointed French ambassador Stephane Roumtier said that Egypt will witness an increase in the number of French tourists received in 2017.

Praising Egypt’s increased security procedures to protect tourists at archeological sites, as witnessed during his visit to the Pyramids in July, Roumtier explained that the French government is going to cooperate with its Egyptian counterpart to organize awareness campaigns aimed at attracting tourists from all over the world.

Economically, Roumtier asserted that 50,000 French companies are currently investing in Egypt. He called for increasing investments in Egypt, citing successful ventures like the development of the third line of Cairo’s metro system and the establishment of Carrefour markets (French multinational retailor).

Routier added that President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi is interested in establishing a French industrial area in Egypt.

The trade volume between Egypt and France reached €2 billion ($2.29 billion), while the volume of investment reached €4 billion ($4.58 billion), according to Roumtier.

He further praised the measures carried out by the Egyptian government to improve the economy under a program of reforms, after securing the three-year $12 billion (LE 215.24 billion) deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Politically, the French ambassador said that Qatar should have a clear policy on confronting terrorism and drain the sources of funding of terrorist organizations. He stated that his country is working to strengthen cooperation with Egypt to counter terrorism and extremism.

Concerning the Syria crisis, Roumtier stated that France is ready for a military intervention in Syria if chemical weapons are used against Syrian people. He continued that France is ready to cooperate with the U.S. on this matter.

As for the Libyan crisis, he asserted that the Libyan political vacuum and division will escalate terrorism and security threats for France, Europe and Egypt.

Roumtier confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron pays great attention to Libya’s conflict, adding that the immigration from Libya to France has created a state of tension and an answer to the crisis must be found.