CAIRO: On her first visit to Egypt in her capacity as French Foreign Trade Minister, Anne-Marie Idrac met with Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to discuss nuclear energy cooperation. Making use of France s expertise, Nazif called for enhancing energy coordination with France to face growing energy prices, cabinet spokesman Magdi Radi told reporters. At a press conference Sunday at Sofitel Gezira, Idrac said "we are boosting Egyptian efforts aimed at modernizing the infrastructure, and cooperation in the field of nuclear energy figures strongly here. I've noted efforts aimed at cooperation between Egypt and Russia in this area, but it is still too early to say anything, for I haven't met as yet with the Egyptian nuclear energy officials. However, she did say that "There was a protocol singed in1980 between Egypt and France with regard to cooperation in that [nuclear energy] area. That could be activated, but there will be a tender involving all the specialized French companies to undertake related studies. "France has [a lot of] experience in this field, she added. Last week, Egypt and Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement on peaceful uses of atomic energy, which enables Russia to bid for the construction of Egypt s first nuclear power plant. Idrac said her two-day visit to Egypt will also revolve around "encouraging French small and medium size businesses to foray into the Egyptian market. "I will make a point of strengthening the rapport of these investors with their Egyptian counterparts in the field of technology, she said. In line with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's initiative to enhance bilateral relations with Mediterranean countries - reinforcing the decisions taken at the Barcelona Summit - Idrac is visiting Egypt, Libya and Tunisia in her first official trip following her appointment as Minister of Foreign Trade in late March. During her tour, she will also work with government officials to prepare for a meeting scheduled to take place in Marseille, France on July 13, bringing together heads of state and other high-ranking government officials to discuss economic relations and, more specifically, stepping up efforts towards human resources development in Mediterranean countries. Talks will also center on supporting Egypt's plans to expand the metro network, mainly connecting the capital with New Cairo and Sixth of October. To discuss bilateral relations in the aforementioned fields, Idrac also met with Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Aboul Naga, Minister of Foreign Investment Mahmoud Mohieldin, Minister of Communication and Information Technology Tarek Kamel and Minister of Transport Mohamed Mansour. With a delegation comprised of investors and businessmen, Idrac is promoting French SMEs' entry into the region in diverse commercial activities. "We are presenting the profiles of both I-Trans and Sophia Antipolis, two companies specializing in modern technology, to Egyptian investors. "I paid a visit to the French technological centers of Alcatel-Lucent and Valeo in Smart Village, and I am meeting with the French Egyptian Businessmen Association, she said. "For France, Egypt is a very important station, stressed Idrac, "owing to the historic and solid Franco-Egyptian relations. In 2007, France became the biggest foreign investor in Egypt after Lafarge purchased Orascom Construction Industries Cement Group. She also pointed out that while French exports to Egypt have reached ?1.2 billion, "this isn't satisfactory when it comes to a country of Egypt's size. Idrac also talked with Nazif about the importance of training and boosting human resources in reducing unemployment rates and solving many social problems. "This area might be beyond my specialty as a foreign trade minister, but I am sure the focus on human resources will become inevitable as our rapport is directed towards diversification of foreign trade and the use of technology.
