PRESIDENT Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi headed to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi for an official visit, a first for an Egyptian president since Vietnam's independence in 1945, reports Reem Leila. The president headed to Hanoi after he concluded his visit to China where he attended the ninth summit of the BRICS Group in Xiamen. Informed sources said aquaculture will be the focus of the president's visit to Vietnam, during which he will discuss cooperation with Hanoi in setting up the largest fish farm in Egypt, with the aim of exporting its production to Europe. Al-Sisi is scheduled to meet senior Vietnamese officials, including Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang and Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the president of the National Assembly and the prime minister, to discuss ways of strengthening ties between the two countries in various fields. Al-Sisi and Vietnamese officials will discuss Vietnam's needs for oil and gas products, fertilisers, urea and medicines, and establishing power generation projects. They will also discuss Vietnam's participation in modernisation projects in Port Said and Alexandria ports. On the sidelines of the visit, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr and Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority and the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) Vice-Admiral Mohab Mamish met Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. Nasr emphasised the importance of enhancing investment cooperation between both countries and encouraging the establishment of joint ventures between the private sectors in Egypt and Vietnam. Both sides agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in investment and the stock exchange, and will soon hold the Egyptian-Vietnamese Business Council. Mamish gave an overview of investment opportunities in the Suez Canal, noting that opportunities were available for the Vietnamese side to invest in several fields where they are experienced such as in fish farming, shipbuilding and pharmaceuticals. In addition, Nasr and Mamish discussed with Vietnamese Minister of Transport Truong Quang Naghia cooperation on ports and how to benefit from Vietnam's extensive experience in the field. They agreed on signing three MOUs between the SCZone and the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport on ports. Nasr and Mamish also met Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Kuk Hang during which Nasr emphasised the importance of a joint meeting not held since 2008. She also commended agreements reached during the fifth Egyptian- Vietnamese Joint Committee, especially in the fields of investment, fish farming, culture and tourism. The Vietnamese minister expressed his country's keenness on establishing investment projects in fish farming which was welcomed by Mamish who said the SCZone would facilitate the procedures for Vietnamese investors in coordination with the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation.
