With several federal ministers, other high officials and influential entrepreneurs to accompany him, Mr. Fradkov will appear in Cairo on the Egyptian top's initiative on what promises to be an epoch-making visit, Mr. Rashid said to the Egyptian-based newspaper, al-Ahram.
The visit will usher in another stage of Russo-Egyptian partnership as vast political and economic reforms are sweeping the world, the region and the two countries, remarked the minister as he highlighted their long-established ties of strategic purport. The USSR was Egypt's biggest economic partner in the 1960s, and stood at the cradle of the Egyptian industrial basis. Now, Egypt vitally needs close strategic links with Russia, based on commerce and the free market.
Many aspects of bilateral trade will come under discussion during Mr. Fradkov's sojourn in Egypt. Of particular importance on the agenda will be prospects for a free trade agreement, and to start joint ventures in automotive industry, tractor manufacture, the oil-and-gas sector, construction material production, engineering and R&D. Egypt and the USA have a bilateral top-level council to lead their partnership. Now, the negotiators will weigh prospects to set up a similar council with Russia.
This will be a first Russian prime-ministerial visit to Egypt since Alexei Kosygin's in October 1973.
This year's bilateral trade turnover, tourist services included, will certainly exceed US$800 million.
Mikhail Fradkov is expected to arrive in Cairo on his two-day visit tomorrow, November 29.
