French President Emanuel Macron's planned visit to Egypt will not take place before December, governmental sources told Daily News Egypt on condition of anonymity, adding that both the Egyptian and French sides are discussing signing defence and economic deals on the side-lines of the visit. Egypt and France are discussing signing new financial agreements about social protection projects, mobile health clinics, and technical support in the field of fashion during the expected presidential visit. More than 10 documents were signed during President Abdel Fattah Al-Sis's visit to France in October, including a letter of intent to supply 500 mobile food units, a joint declaration with the AFD to provide technical assistance of €3.2m for the energy sector, a joint declaration to support a budget in the field of social protection with a loan of up to €60m, and an additional technical support. DNE published in mid-July that the cooperation with France is thriving in many areas, including health and education, which matches the governmental directives to focus more on social sectors, in addition to the traditional fields of cooperation between both countries, which are infrastructure, transportation, and energy. Sources affirmed that the French government in principle approved financing the mobile health clinics project with a primary suggested total cost worth €10m, adding, "Hopefully, we will be able to sign it on the side-lines of Macron's planned visit." Meanwhile, governmental sources said that the Egypt-France Business Council (EFBC) held its latest monthly on 17 July and mainly discussed results of the Paris meeting back in June and the suggested projects that will be signed during Macron's planned visit to Egypt. The EFBC full list of members includes Abdel Halim Assem, counsellor of the chairperson of THALES Africa and Middle East; Adel Danish, chairperson and CEO of Smart Village; Ahmed El Tawil, vice chairperson of Triangle Group; Ahmed Shawki, partner and executive director of Mazars Mostafa Shawki for accounting and auditing; Alaa Diab, president of Pico Modern Agriculture Company; Amr Kais, managing director of Ipsos Egypt; Ashraf El Gazayerli, chairperson of Mashreq for Business Development; and Elhamy El Zayat, managing director and CEO of Emeco Travel. The members list also includes Ghada Darwish, MD of Piza Industrial Supplies; Hamed Hassouna, regional chief director of the UBAF; Karim Refaat, chairperson and managing director of N gage Consulting; Karim Youssef, managing partner at Youssef & Partners Attorneys; and Mahmoud El Kaissy, chairperson of Medgenco International Trade Company. The list also includes Marie Louis Bishara, vice president of Bishara Group BTM; Mohamed Halawa, managing director of Best Cheese Company for Dairy Products (BCC) Nactalis; Mohamed Hassouna, partner at Hassouna & Abou Ali Law Office; Mohamed Khalil, chairperson and CEO of Bunge Egypt; Mohamed Ozalp, managing director and CEO of BLOM Bank Egypt; and Mounir Makar, owner of Makar Financial Consultant.
