Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz to discuss strengthening economic cooperation and bilateral trade on Friday in Vienna. According to a statement from Egypt's foreign ministry, Kurz on his part said that there are 600 Austrian companies looking to invest in Egypt. Shoukry inaugurated on Friday the Egyptian-Austrian business forum to enhance bilateral commercial relations, state news agency MENA reported. The two counterparts tackled a number of regional and international issues including efforts in the United Nations Security Council to combat terrorism and end the Syrian conflict. Egypt was elected a non-permanent UNSC member in 2015 for a two-year term. Shoukry stressed Cairo's stance on the necessity of a political solution in Syria and the importance of humanitarian aid reaching civilians. During the 71st United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York late September, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern to discuss Egyptian-Austrian political and economic relations.
