German president to start visit to Egypt on Monday

German President Johannes Rau will start an official visit to Egypt on Monday, during which he will be escorted by a delegation comprising 30 businessmen and heads of German corporations and companies.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Rau are to witness the signing of an agreement on the establishment of the first Egyptian - German business council, which aims at achieving the highest level of cooperation and coordination between the two countries, supporting the conveying of German technology to Egypt, increasing bilateral investments and increasing commercial exchange averages.

25 Egyptian businessmen will represent the Egyptian side in the Egyptian German business council.

Ismail Ossman, head of the Egyptian side in the council, said the Egyptian side includes representatives of industrial unions, trade unions and tourism chambers, in addition to businessmen and heads of Egyptian companies.