CAIRO – Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa arrived in Cairo yesterday for talks with Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nabil El-Araby, a news release said. Minister Natalegawa's visit marks the first visit Egypt by an Indonesian official since the resignation of the then President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February 2011. The purpose of Natalegawa's visit is to reiterate Indonesian solidarity with the people and the government of Egypt during the current transitional period. In this regard, Natalegawa is scheduled discuss various bilateral issues to enhance cooperation between the two nations. He will also consult on the issue of the Non Aligned Movement, of which Egypt is currently the Chairman. The Movement is planning to hold its 16th Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bali, Indonesia on 25 – 27 May 2011. On bilateral relation, Indonesia and Egypt benefit from a growing cooperation in various fields. In the area of trade, in 2009 the two countries recorded a US$ 800 million of trade figures, and in 2010 it rose significantly to US$ 1 billion. In the area of investment, Indonesian direct investment in Egypt is made of three companies operating in the field of food products, textiles and glassware with a total investment of approximately US$ 250 million.
