Al Akhbar, P.3, (3/7/2008)

Mubarak reviewed with the Indian Minister of External Affairs means of boosting bilateral ties

President Hosni Mubarak received yesterday noon in Sharm El Sheikh Mr. Pranab Mukherjee the Indian Minister of External Affairs who started a three day visit to Egypt with the aim of boosting bilateral ties. The meeting was attended by Mr. Ahmad Abul Gheit, the Egyptian Foreign Minister and Mr. A. Gopinathan, the Indian Ambassador in Cairo. President Mubarak reviewed with the Indian Minister of External Affairs the distinguished ties between the two countries especially on the economic and commercial levels and means of boosting those ties in all domains. They also addressed the new international and regional developments in addition to a number of other issues including the talks related to WTO, energy security, and means of boosting bilateral trade. It is noteworthy that India ranked fourth among importers of Egyptian products in 2007. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries during the past year reached $ 2.3 billion.

Mukherjee's visit to Egypt is the first visit by an Indian Minister of External Affairs since February 2001. Mukherjee participated as an observer in the 11^th summit of the African union that came to a close the day before yesterday in Sharm El Sheikh.

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