Cairo, Moscow close to signing Dhaba nuclear plan trade

Russian Trade Representative in Cairo Fedor A. Lukashin said the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation (Rosatom) is currently cooperating with the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity on details of Dhaba nuclear power plant and its commercial contract.

In statements to MENA on Sunday, Lukashin said talks are over regarding the financial and legal articles of the contract, noting that Rosatom is currently reviewing the data of the station construction site.

The the signing ceremony is expected before the end of the year, he said.

He pointed out that the Russians will provide the Egyptian side with a detailed outline of the nuclear station, noting that Rosatom is currently negotiating with possible Egyptian partners on a list of 20 contracting companies the practical steps of the construction process.

The Russian official also underlined the importance of establishing a Russian industrial zone in the economic zone in east Port Said. Experts from the Egyptian and Russian trade and industry ministries, General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone and the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) held several meetings in this regard on September 26-29 and inspected the proposed location for establishing the Russian industrial zone.

Responding to a question on the looming visits by Russian officials to Egypt in the coming phase, Lukashin said several Russian businessmen delegations are expected to meet their Egyptian counterparts for talks on railway machinery and grains storehouses. He also said a team from "Russia 24" Channel would pay a visit to Egypt to produce a film on economic relations between the two countries.

As per the resumption of Russian tourism movement to Egypt, the Russian official said the Egyptian side has adopted several measures to beef up security measures at the Egyptian airports.

Trade exchange between Egypt and Russia stood at dlrs 2.417 billion during the period from January to August compared with dlrs 2.394 billion the year before, said the official, adding that Egyptian exports to Russia amounted to dlrs 317 million