Minister for Trade opened new trade office in Cairo
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling opened the Swedish Trade Council's new office in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Tuesday evening. Rather than cutting a ribbon, Dr Björling and the President of the Swedish Trade Council, Ulf Berg, tied a symbolic knot between Egypt and Sweden.
Ambassador Malin Kärre, Swedish Trade Council President Ulf Berg, trade office head Cherif El Sayed and Dr Björling open the new Swedish Trade Council office. Photo: Jens Eriksson/MFA
Egypt is Sweden's third largest trade partner in the Middle East and North Africa region, and exports to the country are growing rapidly, doubling between 2004 and 2007. The Swedish Trade Council now has a presence in Cairo and, under Cherif El Sayed's leadership, will assist Swedish companies wanting to further strengthen trade between Sweden and Egypt.
Dr Björling has been in Cairo since Sunday, accompanied by a Swedish business delegation. The visit has included meetings with many Egyptian ministers, including Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George, Minister of Health and Population Hatem El Gabaly, Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohieldin and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Tarek Kamel. On Wednesday the delegation will also meet Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid.
The delegation has also found time to visit Egypt's equivalent of Kista just outside Cairo, Smart City, and taken part in a seminar at the Ministry of State for Environment Affairs, where Dr Björling presented SymbioCity, the Swedish environmental export platform.
