Egypt-France trade exchange hit €2.2 billion in 2018 - minister

CAIRO, Jan 28 (MENA) - Trade and Industry Minister Amr Nassar said Monday the volume of trade exchange between Egypt and France hit €2.2 billion from January to November 2018.

The total Egyptian exports to the French market amounted to 560 million euros, with an increase of 7.3 percent compared to the same period of 2017, the minister told the opening ceremony of the Egyptian-French Business Forum.

French imports to the Egyptian market hit 1.6 billion euros in the same period, he added.

Nassar hailed the current visit paid by French President Emmanuel Macron to Cairo that marks a significant shift in the course of the two countries' economic relations.

The Egyptian-French Business Forum is held at an important stage in light of Egypt's wide economic development, which contributed to increasing investment opportunities in all sectors, he added.

The Egyptian and French governments, alongside business communities of both countries are making great efforts to promote joint economic and trade relations, the minister said.

The visit of a French business delegation to Cairo offers an important opportunity to explore more areas of joint cooperation in the Egyptian market, as the Egyptian government is already looking for more economic partnerships and cooperation projects between the two countries' business communities aiming to attract more investments and transferring expertise to the local market, he added.

The ministry will spare no effort to support French businessmen in exploiting investment opportunities in the Egyptian market, Nassar added.