King’s visit gives new impetus to relations with Egypt

A number of Saudi political and business experts stressed that King Salman’s visit to Egypt will give new impetus to bilateral relations and renew the Kingdom’s support to Egypt in all conditions.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, the board chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC), Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil, said King Salman’s visit to Egypt is a great opportunity for Saudi businessmen to discuss with their Egyptian counterparts means on how to remove obstacles facing investments between the two countries.
He affirmed that the Egyptian market is the second largest market for Saudi businessmen at the global level, and the first at the Arab level.
On the economic front, Deputy President of the Saudi-Egyptian Business Council (SEBC) Abdullah bin Mahfouz said SEBC President Saleh Kamil had reviewed with Saudi businessmen the new companies established in March 2016, with capitals standing at 36 billion Egyptian pounds ($4 billion), of which 10 percent was deposited in Egyptian banks and is poised to be raised to 25 percent in a three-month period.
On the political front, the head of the Culture, Media, Tourism and Antiquities Committee at the Shoura Council, Ahmed Al-Zailai, termed Saudi-Egyptian relations as complementary that are supportive to the security of the Arab region.
He said King Salman’s visit to Egypt is a clear message to all who want to disrupt historic relations between the Kingdom and Egypt adding that the two countries are united in meeting joint interests that are an integral part of Arab interests.
For his part, professor of political science at King Saud University Salih Al-Khathlan said the importance of the visit is not limited to bilateral relations but expands into the whole region thanks to the position and weight of the two countries in the face of the tense current events.
Likewise, Shoura Council member Abdullah Al-Munayif said King Salman’s visit to Egypt has important manifestations at a time when the Arab region is experiencing many challenges.
He said boosting cooperation between the two countries will serve in addressing regional issues in the region, on one hand, and enhancing bilateral relations through encouragement of the private sector in both countries and, therefore, achieving the aspirations of the leaders in the two countries in serving the two peoples.
In this context, political analyst and professor of political sciences at King Saud University Ibrahim Al-Nahas said the visit comes in the framework of inter-Arab solidarity. Notably Saudi Arabia and Egypt are enjoying weight in the region and have potentials that will serve Arab issues fully and perfectly.
Egyptian envoy to the Kingdom Nasir Hamdi said King Salman’s visit to Egypt comes as the culmination of efforts exerted by the Saudi-Egyptian Coordination Council.
He said the Kingdom is the biggest trade partner for Egypt in inter-trade areas where the volume of trade exchange between the two countries stood at $6.2 billion.
He said viewpoints between the two countries were identical on developments experienced by the region including, among others, participation of Egypt in the Saudi-led Arab coalition in support of legitimacy in Yemen, and the Syrian file and preservation of the Syrian identity.
In Jeddah, Deputy Chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce Mazen Batterjee said the deep-rooted relations between the Kingdom and Egypt represent a strategic depth for the whole region and constitute the real guarantee for the continuation of Arab-Islamic solidarity.
He said King Salman’s visit to Egypt are a clear evidence that bilateral relations are at the best levels and the two countries are capable of leading the region to a safe destiny.
Businessman Mohammed Abdullah Al-Anqari said the business community is proud to see visits and initiatives made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in unifying ranks with all Arab countries, especially Egypt, which joined the “North Thunder” maneuvers. This was a message to those who want to tamper with the security and safety of the region.
Source: Arab News