CAIRO: The Egyptian government plans to double exports to 200 billion Egyptian pounds (US $35 billion) by 2013, Egypt's Trade and Industry Minister, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, said on Wednesday. In a statement published by Egypt's official news agency MENA, Rashid said his ministry is carrying out programs that aim to maintain existing export markets and create new ones. He noted that the period from January to December 2010 witnessed a significant leap in Egyptian exports, reaching a total of 103 billion EGP (US $18 billion), compared to 92 billion EGP (US $16 billion) in 2009. Rachid also said that total exports are expected to reach 110 billion EGP (US $19 billion) by the end of 2011. The government expected 100 billion EGP in exports for 2010, representing a 20 percent increase over 2009. BM