Iran not invited until now to attend Egypt-hosted economic conference

Iran has not been invited until now to attend an economic conference due in Sharm el Sheikh in March, said Head of the Egyptian Interests Delegation in Tehran Khaled Omara.
During his meeting with a delegation of Egyptian journalists, currently visiting here, Omara said that the volume of trade between Egypt and Iran hits about 500 million dollars.
Responding to a question by MENA about the possibility to resuming Iran's tourism to Egypt, Omara said that Iranian tourist companies have breached terms of an agreement signed in this regard between the two countries.
"We do not object to the return of the Iranian tourism to Egypt as long as the Iranian companies abide by the terms of the agreement signed with their Egyptian counterparts," he added.
Asked if there are requests by Iranian investors to do business in Egypt, Omara said that there are no requests submitted by Iranian investors until now, adding that there are only two Iranian companies and a bank in Egypt.
"Iran is a very important country in the region, but its role should not be at the cost of Arab national security or Egyptian interests," he made it clear.
Talking about his viewpoint toward economic ties between Egypt and Iran, Omara termed as historical relations binding the two countries.
Iran's policy toward Egypt is divergent on the domestic front, he added.
Asked if there is Egyptian community in Iran, Omara said that there are about 120 Egyptians living in Iran, most of them are traders.
An electoral committee will be held at the embassy in Tehran during Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections, he added.