Mubarak to visit Toshka, soon

Preparations for an imminent visit by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to Toshka to follow up work and execution programmes were discussed at a ministerial meeting held Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Atef Ebeid.

Ebeid told reporters after the meeting that the Toshka project was being carried out at high rates ahead of schedule. A total of L.E. 2200 million have been spent on the project so far and the volume of total investments of the project is expected to rise to L.E. 5700 million.

The cost of the reclamation of one feddan until it begins to produce in full is expected to amount to about L.E. 20,000. High-yield crops will be planted and exported. The Prime Minister said that every company will lay down timetables for the reclamation of land and will negotiate with world companies for marketing its production and receiving technical know-how.

"Negotiations are underway between the companies, which own land in Toshka and world companies for marketing the production and providing the technical consultation," Ebeid said.

Mubarak also plans to visit the Western North Coast to inspect projects aiming to develop the area soon.

Ebeid discussed preparations for the visit at a ministerial meeting which was held under his chairmanship Thursday. He said that there are plans to use land round the highway between Damietta and Salloum. The Prime Minister added President Mubarak will visit the highway and 55 infrastructure projects which were carried out on both sides of the highway.

"It is planned to build two areas to set up petrochemical industries, particularly following the discovery of natural gas in the area," the Prime Minister said.