Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Nevine Gamea said coordination is underway to organize a joint Egyptian-Swedish business forum to foster industrial and commercial cooperation between business communities in both countries.
The minister highlighted the key role of business communities in Egypt and Sweden in activating the frameworks of the strategic partnership and promoting trade and investment co-operation between the two countries in the coming stage.
Gamea made the remarks during an expanded session of talks with Swedish Minister of Trade Anna Hallberg and her accompanying delegation to mull means of enhancing joint cooperation between both countries in various areas, mainly in the fields of investment, trade and developing small-sized enterprises.
She said that talks touched on preparations for forming the first joint Egyptian-Swedish business council which she said will represent a main pillar for co-operation between both counties in the commercial, investment and industrial fields.
The meeting also took up the possibility of co-operation via organizing joint activities and holding business meetings between investors from the two countries as part of Expo 2020 Dubai which is set to open in the coming few days, said the minister.
Gamea invited her Swedish counterpart to visit the Egyptian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Gamea pointed out that trade relations between Egypt and Sweden have not been affected by the coronavirus crisis, but they increased remarkably, noting that the volume of trade exchange between both countries hit about $913.4 million in 2020 against $734 million recorded in 2019 with a 25% increase.
Meanwhile, the Swedish minister asserted the government’s keenness on promoting economic, investment and commercial relations with Egypt which she described as one of the key partners in the Middle East and Africa.
She expressed the Swedish government’s appreciation for the comprehensive development plans and mega projects that Egypt is currently implementing which she said will greatly contribute to achieving a leap in the Egyptian economy.
