Iraqi economic delegation in Egypt

Egypt 's minister of the economy and foreign trade Youssef Butrous Ghali on Tuesday in Cairo met with Iraq's minister of commerce Muhammad Mahdi Saleh, who arrived in Cairo earlier in the day, leading an economic delegation to take part in the meetings of the 8th session of the joint committee on Iraqi - Egyptian trade cooperation due to start works today Wednesday.

A statement by the Egyptian ministry of the economy said talks of the committee will deal with means of developing trade relations between the two states and means of ensuring humanitarian and foodstuffs aids to the Iraqi people through the UN oil-for-food program.

The statement added that it expects the current year to witness a higher volume for the trade exchange between the two states, noting that the first half of the current year 2000 recorded Egyptian exports to Iraq at a cost of US $ 140 million. This figure is expected to be doubled during the second half of the current year.