Egyptian President Sisi was received by Macron at the Elysee Palace
President Sisi starts two day official visit to France
Paris, The Gulf Observer: The two leaders will hold discussions to address means of boosting bilateral relations between the two countries on all levels, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.
They will also discuss a number of regional and international issues, according to the spokesman.
This will be the first one-on-one meeting between the two presidents since Macron was reelected in April.
El-Sisi’s visit to France comes as part of a European tour by the president that included Germany and Serbia.
Economic cooperation
France has €4.6 billion in investments in infrastructure projects in Egypt, including the provision of €800 million in government loans, €1 billion from the French Development Agency, and €2 billion in bank loans guaranteed by the French state.
Trade between Egypt and France amounted to $1.83 billion in 2021.
There are 168 French companies operating in Egypt, employing tens of thousands of workers.
In recent months, Egypt and France have also intensified their economic coordination to mitigate the impact of the Ukraine war.
In June, Egypt, which relied heavily on Russia and Ukraine imported wheat, imported 63,000 tons of wheat from France as part of the country’s efforts to diversify its wheat sources.
In May, Egypt and France signed an agreement to manufacture 55 air-conditioned trains for Cairo Metro Line One and provide maintenance work for them for eight years.
France’s Alstom Co. will implement the project, which will cost €776.9 million, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement.
Military and political cooperation
The armed forces of both countries have held numerous joint drills in recent years to raise combat readiness.
French arms sales to Egypt increased by 44 percent between 2016 and 2020, compared to the period between 2011 and 2015.
Egypt is reportedly the second largest customer of French arms after India, with military purchases focused on Rafale jets and advanced electronic surveillance systems.
Additionally, Egypt and France see eye to eye on a number of regional issues, including the need for a political solution to the conflict in Libya through the holding of elections and the departure of all foreign forces from the country.
