More calls for activating Euro-Mediterranean, FIA agreement

The visiting delegation of French businessmen Sunday called for activating the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement.

They stressed that the agreement would help push forward economic relations between the Mediterranean countries and European Union (EU).

During his meeting with the delegation, head of the Egyptian -French association in Paris Terry de Musset said President Jacques Chirac have contributed to furthering cooperation between the government and private companies in the two countries.

The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and France witnessed remarkable development over the past period as it reached in 2000 10.64 billion French francs.

French exports to Egypt accounted for 7.989 billion francs, while Egyptian exports were valued at 2.75 billion francs.

The head of the French delegation urged the Egyptian and French businessmen to study the Egyptian market and investment rules in order to pinpoint the exact needs of the markets.

French ambassador François Dopffer considered the privatization and BOT (build, operate and transfer) projects in Egypt are major magnet for foreign investments.

Abdel Gazarien, member of the Egyptian businessmen association, expressed desire that French businessmen would take part in setting up Egyptian airports and roads projects.