Egypt keen on boosting economic cooperation with Nile basin

Egyptian government is keen on boosting prospects of economic cooperation and increasing rate of two-way trade and investments with Nile basin countries, Minister of Trade and Industry Tareq Qabil said on Tuesday.

He stressed the importance of South Sudan as an outlet for the Egyptian exports as well as a key investment destination in different industrial and trade fields.

Qabil made the remarks during his meeting with South Sudan's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Sofia A. Gai, in the presence of South Sudanese ambassador to Egypt Anthony Kon and Egypt's trade plenipotentiary Ahmed Antar.

Sudanese minister A. Gai delivered a message from South Sudan's first vice president to Qabil on the importance of strengthening the bilateral relations and undertaking joint investment projects in South Sudan, particularly in the field of livestock.

Meanwhile, A. Gai highlighted the necessity of briefing the Egyptian investors on the investment incentives offered by South Sudan.

The Egyptian minister for his part shed light on the possibility of transferring the know-how of the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry to its South Sudanese counterpart especially with regard to technical and procedural aspects to ease the flow of mutual trade movement.

Egyptian investments in South Sudan are notably expanding particularly in the fields of construction, ceramics production and entertainment cities, the South Sudanese minister noted.

She added that the Egyptian government has implemented a number of projects in South Sudan in the fields of electricity, irrigation, education, health and agriculture.

South Sudanese ministers' current visit to Cairo falls within the framework of her participation in a conference on scientific and technological development in the field of water resources sustainable development.

The conference, which is organized by National water research center (NWRC), sees a host of water resources minister from different Nile basin countries.