CAIRO: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi praised the “positive” role of the German companies concerning Egypt’s development in a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Saturday.
In the meeting preceding the UN General Assembly, the president discussed the refugees’ crisis and expressed his appreciation towards Germany welcoming that large number of refugees on its own land, saying that it “reflects a noble humanitarian position,” acording to an Egyptian presidency release.
Merkel pointed that her country fully comprehends the situation of the refugees and encourages the dialogue and international cooperation to resolve their crisis.
Countering terrorism was one of the top issues discussed during the meeting; Sisi noted that combating terrorism is not limited to the military and security measures, but also has social and economic aspects, the Egyptian presidency noted.
Sisi also called for “an intellectual awakening in the Islamic world to reassert the tolerant, true values of Islam,” said the release.
Trade volume between Cairo and Berlin is estimated at 4 billion Euros ($4.4 billion) annually, making the European country one of Egypt’s most important trade partners, according to Minister of Trade Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour in June.
German investments in several fields in the Egyptian market are valued at 603 million Euros, said Abdel Nour, stressing on the importance of promoting such investments to reflect the tight bilateral relations and the strong German economy as well.
Some 80 German companies participated in the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC) in March in Sharm al-Sheikh; most notably Siemens, which will execute electricity projects in Egypt at a cost of $2.2 billion.