NNA - Caretaker Agriculture Minister, Abbas Hajj Hassan, on Monday visited Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Ahmad Samir, as part of the former’s Egyptian tour. 

The pair discussed ways to strengthen economic relations and cooperation, as well as the possibility of benefiting from the potentials of both countries to establish investment partnerships that could benefit both nations. 

For his part, Hajj Hassan lauded the main role that the Egyptian state played in promoting joint Arab action, reiterating the Lebanese state’s appreciation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi’s call to facilitate the entry of Lebanese exports to the Egyptian market. 

Hajj Hassan further stressed Lebanon’s commitment to a number of agreements with the Egyptian government to facilitate commercial exchanges between the two countries. 

For his part, the Egyptian Minister affirmed that Egypt and Lebanon maintained historical relations in various fields, and at all levels. 

“The constant communication between the business circles of both countries has contributed to the implementation of joint cooperation projects in a large number of production and service sectors,” Samir said, affirming his ministry’s willingness to provide all aspects of support and assistance to Lebanese investments in Egypt and to establish more investment opportunities for Lebanese investors, especially in the field of agricultural transformation. 

“Trades between the two countries have increased by 33% in 2021, reaching $502 million, compared to approximately $378 million in 2020,” Samir explained, adding that "Egyptian exports to Lebanon have increased by 18% , registering $329 million in 2020 compared to $280 million in 2020.” 

==============R.H.