Egypt keen on realizing stability in Lebanon: diplomat

BEIRUT - 9 July 2018: Egyptian Ambassador in Beirut Nazih el Nagari underlined the Egyptian leadership's keenness on realizing national rapprochement and stability in Lebanon.

In a statement issued by Lebanon government on Monday after a meeting with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, Nagari that the line-up of the Lebanese government is vital for the stability of the Arab state.

The talks tackled ways of fostering bilateral ties and the latest developments in Lebanon.

On Jun 8, Al-Najari discussed with Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade Raed Khoury and Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan economic relations between Egypt and Lebanon at the Egyptian Embassy premises in Beirut.

During the meeting, the trade dimension of the two countries' ties was touched on within a framework of following up the trade exchange volume between the two countries in a way that serves both states' interests.

In February, Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Kabil said that the Egyptian government is keen on creating a real economic partnership with Lebanon.

Economic reforms recently adopted by Cairo have paved the way for a new phase of economic relations with Beirut, kabil said at a seminar organized by the Egyptian Lebanese Businessmen Friendship Association (ELBA) to probe promising industrial opportunities in Egypt.

Measures to improve the investment climate have sure contributed to creating an "ideal" atmosphere for trade cooperation between the two countries, Kabil told the seminar.

He touched upon initiatives launched by his Ministry to achieve industrial integration with Lebanon and enhance trade exchange between the two sides.

Investors and men of industry do play a pivotal role in boosting bilateral ties through joint projects that serve the interests of both countries, Kabil said.

He put the volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Lebanon in 2017 at $674 million.

A strategy has been outlined to increase Egyptian exports to tap more foreign markets, Kabil noted.