President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Sunday in Cairo Egyptian-French economic and commercial cooperation and ways to boost French investments in Egypt with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, the Egyptian presidency said.

According to the Egyptian presidency, the meeting witnessed an agreement on the importance of economic and commercial cooperation between Egypt and France and the priority of boosting French investments in the country.

The president and the French minister agreed that the Egyptian market represents a promising launching point for French exports to different markets in the region due to Egypt’s central geographical locales, the free trade agreements Cairo signed, as well as the incentives and advantages available for investing in the country.

El-Sisi and Le Maire also discussed the huge investment opportunities available for French companies in Egyptian national megaprojects like the Suez Economic Zone, ‘Decent Life’ Initiative, and the new cities currently being constructed nationwide.

Le Maire conveyed to El-Sisi the greetings of French President Emmanuel Macron for the recent Egyptian efforts in reaching a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Palestinian territories.

Le Maire asserted the depth of Egyptian-French strategic relations, stressing that France was keen to support Egypt by boosting and diversifying its investment in the country, as well as enhancing joint cooperation in all fields.

From his side, El-Sisi stated that those investment opportunities are supported by the stability that Egypt has been enjoying recently.

El-Sisi and Le Maire also discussed ways to boost partnership between the two countries in the cultural and tourism fields, the Egyptian presidency’s statement read.

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, and Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait attended the meeting, along with Egypt’s Ambassador to France Alaa Youssef and France’s Ambassador to Egypt Stéphane Romatet.