Aleppo - Activities of the Syrian-Egyptian Commercial Ministerial Committee kicked off on Tuesday in Sheraton Hotel in Aleppo to discuss trade exchange and means for overcoming obstacles hindering its development.
Head of the Syrian side in the Committee, Minister of Economy and Trade Lamia Assi, affirmed the importance of economic and commercial relations between Syria and Egypt.
The Minister called on Syrian and Egyptian businessmen to launch joint development and industrial projects, affirming that the Syrian and Egyptian governments support such initiatives that help bolster relations.
She also called for Syria and Egypt to form the nucleus of an Arab customs federation due to the similarity in their financial and customs policies and systems referring to agreements and memos of understanding signed by Syria and Egypt. She lauded the efforts exerted by the two countries' governments to boost Syrian-Egyptian relations.
For his part, Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Rashid Mohammad Rashid spoke about the depth of relations between the two countries, lauding Syria's commitment to bolstering them.
Rashid said that a lot of Egyptian businessmen wanted to come to Syria and participate in the committee's meeting, noting that trade exchange between the two countries increased by 30% in 2009.
He also lauded the economic reforms and developments in Syria saying this encourages further cooperation between the two countries. He noted that Egypt is also undergoing economic reform.
Rashid called for increasing trade exchange between the two countries and developing its system, in addition to promoting fair competition between companies from both countries, adding that Egyptian investments in Syria are very successful and vice versa.
He expressed his country's readiness to start talks to form the nucleus of the Arab Customs Federation.
Syrian-Egyptian Commercial Ministerial Committee meeting discussed the resolutions adopted in former meetings, trade exchange between the two countries, obstacles facing it, and means for overcoming them.
The committee also discussed issues related to goods specifications, customs procedures, exhibitions, establishing joint marine shipping companies and banks, agricultural relations, and pharmaceuticals.
By H. Sabbagh
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
