Egypt, USA contact for free trade agreement
The Egyptian Trade Representation Office in Washington held intensive contacts and meetings with US officials to discuss forging free trade agreement between the two countries.
The office discussed involving labour and environment criteria within the free trade agreements and preparation of a list of businessmen organisations that can be contacted to secure their support for the agreement.
Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Youssef Boutros Ghali received a report from the Trade Representation Agency on the activities of trade offices abroad during the second half of last December as well as encouragement of export-oriented investments.
The Ministerial Economic Group, in its meeting Sunday under Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, decided to embark on a dialogue with the US Administration to establish a free trade area between Egypt and the United States.
The Buenos Aires Office made contacts for the visit of a trade mission from Argentina so as to probe establishment of joint investment ventures in the field of furniture manufacturing and the possibility of importing large amounts of timber to Egypt, according to the report.
The Lisbon Office discussed joint ventures in the fields of banking, dairy products, iron & steel, furniture and natural gas while the Paris Office is studying projects in the field of water treatment, tourism, energy, hygiene and construction.
The Montreal Office provided opportunities to export fresh and dried vegetables and fresh fruits while the San Francisco Office provided opportunities to export furniture, ready-made clothes, marble, ceramics and handicrafts.
The Paris Office also discussed Egypt's possible participation in the International Technology and Information Fair, which will be held in the French capital on March 6-8.
On its part, the Rome Office promoted efforts to set up an exhibition of wooden products in Cairo on June 5-8 with participation of the Italian side within a joint cooperation programme in the field of developing wood industry in Egypt.