Governor of the Egyptian province of South Sinai Khaled Fouda has discussed with Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabićways ways to revitalize tourism between the two countries and increase the number of flights to the Egyptian airports, especially the city of Sharm El-Sheikh and tourist cities.

Their meeting at the Serbian cabinet headquarters in Belgrade came as part of Fouda’s visit to Serbia, which aims to enhance means of cooperation between Cairo and Belgrade, increase tourism flow from Serbia to touristic destinations in South Sinai and support investment.

Brnabić has welcomed Fouda and his accompanying delegation and emphasized her interest in the huge development boom undertaken by the Egyptian state recently under the leadership of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

During the meeting, which was attended by Egypt’s Ambassador to Serbia Omar El-Juwaili, Fouda invited Brnabić to visit Sharm El-Sheikh.

Fouda, who is accompanied by a delegation of businessmen and investors, also discussed overcoming all difficulties between the civil aviation authorities of both countries.

In a separate meeting with Serbian Trade Minister Tatjana Matić, Fouda has touched upon all means of cooperation between the two countries in the field of investment and tourism.

In their meeting, Matić has offered to finance 20 percent as a non-refundable grant for any Egyptian investment project carried out in Serbia.

From his side, the governor has also called for facilitating visa procedures for Egyptians, increasing the number of airlines between the two countries, and allowing the operation of Egypt’s Air Cairo airlines, the statement said.

During a third meeting with the head of the Civil Aviation Authority and deputy minister of transport of Serbia, Fouda discussed operating a direct regular flight from Belgrade to Sharm El-Sheikh as soon as possible.

Moreover, Fouda has agreed with Serbian officials on operating a direct flight between Sharm El-Sheikh and the Serbian city of Nis, similar to the already-operating Belgrade-Hurghada direct flight.

Egypt’s Governor of South Sinai Khaled Fouda and Mayor of Serbian Nis City Dragana Sotirovski (Photo courtesy of South Sinai governorate)

During a meeting with the Mayor of Nis Dragana Sotirovski, the governor has also signed a preliminary agreement for the city of Nis to be a twin city of Sharm El-Sheikh, aiming at enhancing cooperation between the two cities, especially in the field of tourism.

Sotirovski said Fouda’s visit “represents a strong start to the relations between the two countries” and has promised to visit Sharm El-Sheikh, the statement noted.

It was agreed to name a square in the Serbian city of Nis after Sharm El-Sheikh.

On the sidelines of his visit, Fouda has attended Egypt’s celebration of the 23 July Revolution, which was held at the Public Library in the Serbian capital Belgrade.

A group of prominent Serbian politicians, religion and art officials and a group of Arab and foreign ambassadors were present at the ceremony.