Egyptian, Qatari businessmen agree to activate trade cooperation

Egyptian and Qatari businessmen agreed Monday to boost trade and investment cooperation and launch more joint ventures. The two sides agreed in a meeting between the visiting Egyptian business delegation and Qatar's Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), that both countries enjoy great untapped potentials that can be fairly harnessed.

"The strong ties between Egypt and Qatar should serve as a springboard for increasing investments and enhancing trade cooperation," said CTI Chairman khaled Al-Mana'.

He added that businessmen from both countries are very much concerned with the process than the two governments.

In doing so, he noted, the Egyptian-Qatari business Council should be activated and more joint ventures launched.

The Chairman of Egypt's General Union of Trade Chambers, khaled Abu Ismail, agreed that the trade volume between both countries does not match up to their strong bilateral relations.

He said Egypt's exports to Qatar stand at a meager dlrs 5.3 nillion and Qatar's at dlrs 5.6 million.

Ismail further said the Qatari tourists, some 11,000 people a year, represent a small percentage of the overall number of tourists visiting Egypt.

The Egyptian businessmen are accompanying Prime Minister Dr Atef Ebeid, currently visiting Qatar.