In the coming two days, Egypt and Ethiopia are expected to sign cooperation protocols in a number of fields, including agriculture, irrigation, construction, telecommunications and animal wealth. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Abul Naga are scheduled to head a five-ministry delegation to Addis Ababa on Tuesday with a view towards increasing Egypt's bilateral trade with Ethiopia to US$1 billion for 2010. According to Hassan Hafez, member of the Egypt-Ethiopia Business Council, Egypt is now in the process of importing 13,000 heads of cattle and sheep from both Ethiopia and Djibouti. "The shipment, set to arrive within three weeks, will help drive down local meat prices," he said. Echoing demands made by Egyptian cattle importers, Hafez urged the Egyptian government to complete expansion works currently underway at the Safaga slaughterhouse in order to accommodate more than 6000 heads of cattle. "Cattle importers also want to be exempted from taxes on imported fodder," he added. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
