Paris chose to be by Cairo's side at all levels

Paris chose to stand by Cairo's side at all levels to put the two countries' relations on the path of a long-term project, visiting French President Francois Hollande said.

Delivering a speech at the Egyptian-French Business Forum on Monday, Hollande said the large presence of French companies during the visit shows the confidence they have in Egypt's future, adding that none of them have halted their activities since 2011.

There are 150 branches of French companies in the country with 35,000 Egyptian employees, the French leader said, adding that France is the sixth largest foreign investor in Egypt and has an ambition to hit a higher rank in this regard.

Egypt has a desire to confront grave challenges, mainly the security challenge in a region suffering from disasters, terrorism and wars, he added.

"If those challenges were not faced according to our principles, economic development will not be achieved neither at the medium nor the long terms," he said.   
Among the challenges facing Egypt is the demographic one as the country's population is increasing nearly by two million each year, making it a necessary to prepare the infrastructure for the population growth, visiting French President Francois Hollande said during the Egyptian-French Business Forum.

The country's population has to spread all over Egypt to provide a larger chance for economic development, he said.

Egypt has carried out important reforms related to tax rules, public services, improving the economic stage and protecting foreign investments, which are all required for attracting and retaining investment, he said.

There is a proposed Egyptian economic strategy willing to have a French contribution aiming at ensuring Egypt's self-sufficiency in terms of energy resources, building an infrastructure to fulfill the demands of the Egyptian people and establishing energy-saving sustainable cities, the French leader said.

Egypt in a record time had succeeded in developing the infrastructure of the energy sector, Hollande said, noting that Egypt has increased its power capabilities and built plants for gas imports, putting an end to the power outage problem that the country had suffered over the past years.   

The signing of the Paris agreement to combat climate change obliges France to adopt ambitious policies to develop renewable and alternative energies as they have to make up 20% of the electricity production in the new decade, visiting French President Francois Hollande said during the Egyptian-French Business Forum.

France is ready to offer Egypt comprehensive proposals to develop renewable energy, Hollande said, adding that Egypt chose civil nuclear energy, in which France has a great expertise, noting that France is willing to help Egypt in this field.

Hollande said agreements worth more than 1.5 billion euros were signed on Sunday here in the fields of development and transport in urban areas.

Transport is one of the largest fields the two countries are cooperating in, he said, pointing out in this regard to Cairo metro.   

Addressing the Egyptian-French Business Forum, visiting French President Francois Hollande said French companies are willing to invest in the new Suez Canal region, pointing out to the vast development and investment opportunities in this area.

France is also fully ready to offer help to Egypt regarding sustainable cities in terms of their integrated management, urban planning, network administration and technology, Hollande said.

He stressed the importance of building relations between the two countries in vocational training, saying that he wants to see exchanges between universities, engineers and university researchers.   
Cairo and Paris have a long-term common vision and strategy to exchange experiences in the technology field, visiting French President Francois Hollande said addressing the Egyptian-French Business Forum on Monday. 

Hollande said the timing of his Egypt visit coincides with the crises in the Middle East that require solution, referring to the Syrian, Iraqi, Yemeni and Libyan crises in addition to terrorism that is not only harming the region's countries but also Europe's.

He pointed out to the terror operations in France last year and Brussels this year.

Egypt and France are working in concert to resolve the dispute in Libya and are seeking a political transition process in Syria, he added.

Source ; MENA