Iraqi - Egyptian commercial committee to convene at end of month

The meetings of the Iraqi - Egyptian committee will convene at the end of October under the chairmanship of the trade ministers in the two states.

Ahmed Antar, head of the Egyptian commercial bureau in Baghdad, said yesterday that the committee will discuss increasing Egypt's share in the understanding note, developing economic and commercial cooperation between the two states, discussing cooperation with Iraq especially in the electricity and petroleum sectors and the problems resulting from the increasing cost of maritime and hand transportation in Iraq.

He expected an increase in the volume of Egyptian exports to Iraq during the sixth stage of the understanding note known as the oil-for-food agreement to $200 million, as the export volume of this stage reached so far $142 million.

He added that the committee's meetings coincide with opening the new session fo the Baghdad International Fair on November 1 and will provide a chance for pushing the Egyptian exports in the Iraqi markets, saying that 82 Egyptian companies have so far announced their participation in the Baghdad International Fair.