Mubarak will address economic issues on visit to Italy and Germany

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is to visit Italy on Monday, beginning a European tour, in which he also will visit Germany.

Economic circles in Cairo expected that the president's visit to Germany could result in tangible outcomes in upgrading economic and investment relations and industrial cooperation between Egypt and the two countries.

Thus the visit comes within the framework of Egyptian efforts to achieve progress in the Middle East peace process and revive the European role in light of the German presidency of the European Union and what it could present to enhance the negotiations for the Egyptian - European partnership.

The Egyptian minister of trade and supply said that President Mubrak's visit to Italy is very important because Italy is an important commercial partner for Egyptian exports, as Italy occupies the first position among EU countries in imports from Egypt.