Cyprus eyes cooperation with Egypt: Minister

CAIRO - 7 May 2018: Cyprus Minister of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis has expressed his country's keenness on promoting cooperation with Egypt in various domains, benefiting from the potentials provided in the two countries and boosting trade between them in a way benefiting their peoples.

In a meeting Monday with Prime Minister Sherif Ismail in the presence of Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla and Cypriot ambassador to Egypt Charis Moritsis, the minister said that his country seeks increasing cooperation with Egypt in many fields.

He said Cypriot firms have a desire to work in Egypt's markets and taking part in national and development projects, adding the Egyptian markets have many promising chances and potentials.

The prime minister welcomed the Cypriot minister, praising the relations between the two countries and cooperation between them in various domains.

The meeting took up cooperation projects including electricity linkage and natural gas in the light of the plan to turn Egypt into a regional center for gas, and the project of extending a pipeline carrying Cyprus natural gas to Egypt and liquefying the gas with the aim of exporting it.

The prime minister also discussed with the Cypriot minister means to eliminate obstacles hindering the trade movement between the two countries in the light of Egypt' s interest in increasing exports to Cyprus and EU countries.