CAIRO - Attracting investments to Egypt and boosting bilateral economic ties will top the agenda of Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf during his tour of three Gulf countries due to kick off Monday in Saudi Arabia. The tour that was originally due Sunday, included the UAE, but it was announced last week that the visit had been postponed as the country's officials would be abroad and unavailable to meet Sharaf. The trip will also take the Egyptian Prime Minister to Kuwait and Qatar. Sharaf Sunday underscored the “deeply rooted ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia”. In statements to the Saudi daily Okaz, Sharaf said that his visit to the Kingdom would seek to reassure Saudis on the investment climate in the country after the January 25 revolution. He expected ties with Riyadh to be “better than the past”. Saudi Arabia was a key ally of deposed president Hosni Mubarak. Sharaf will have talks with King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Azizi, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prince Naif Bin Abdul-Aziz and Foreign Minister Saoud al-Faisal. He will also meet representatives of the Egyptian community there, senior officials said in Cairo Sunday. The delegation accompanying Sharaf includes Foreign Minister Nabil el-Arabi; Minister of Finance Samir Radwan; Industry and Trade Minister Samir el-Sayyad, and International Co-operation Fayza Abul Naga.
