Russian deputy PM, Egyptian PM to discuss creation of industrial zone, development of energy and agricultural cooperation
CAIRO. Sept 15 (Interfax) - The talks between Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and the Egyptian administration on September 15-16 will address the development of Russian-Egyptian cooperation in the sphere of energy, including on further construction of the nuclear power plant, and also the supply of agricultural products and the prospects of creation of the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Overchuk told reporters talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and the Egyptian ministers of industry, transportation, and investment and foreign trade are scheduled to be held during the visit to Cairo.
The meetings with the Egyptian administration will become a continuation of the top-level talks held between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the Egyptian leader's visit to Moscow in May, the Russian deputy prime minister said.
"The heads of our states outlined a whole range of issues on which interaction needs to be increased. In particular, the idea of creating in Egypt of a Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone is under consideration," Overchuk said.
"We will speak about our bilateral agenda, including energy cooperation," he said, adding that Russia is now involved in the construction of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt.
"There is an interest in further developing cooperation in the sphere of peaceful atom," Overchuk said.
He did not say whether the issue of cooperation in the oil and gas sphere will be discussed, noting that the talk will "generally address energy." Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov told reporters in May the agenda of Russian-Egyptian cooperation in the sphere of fuel and energy, in particular, included the issue of creating in the African country of LNG terminals. The issue was addressed in the May session of the Russian-Egyptian commission on trade, economic and technological cooperation.
Besides energy, Overchuk plans to discuss with the Egyptian side issues concerning the supply of Russian agricultural products and cooperation in the sphere of tourism. "Egypt traditionally is a good buyer of our grain, wheat, therefore, we will talk about that as well. Egyptian food import is significant to us. Besides, of course, Egypt is traditionally a tourist destination to us, therefore, we will discuss this issue, too," he said.
