DJIBOUTI, April 23 (MENA) - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh reiterated on Wednesday their rejection of threats to security and freedom of navigation in the international trade in the Red Sea, underlining the importance of adhering to the principles and foundations of regional security.

They agreed on the exclusive responsibility of the countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to govern and secure this important international maritime passageway.

In a speech during a joint press conference with his Djiboutian counterpart at the Djiboutian presidential Palace, Sisi announced the establishment of the Egyptian-Djiboutian Business Council.

He noted that he had discussed with his Djiboutian counterpart carrying out projects in partnership between the Egyptian and Djiboutian public and private sectors.

These projects include establishing a logistics center for Egyptian companies in the free zone in Djibouti, implementing a project to expand the container port in Doraleh, ongoing studies to construct roads connecting the port of Djibouti to the road network in Djibouti and the region, thus enhancing overland trade.

Sisi added that he and Guelleh agreed to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations in the coming period through serious and practical steps.

They also agreed to inaugurate the headquarters of the Bank of Egypt-Djibouti within days, directed a review of previous treaty frameworks related to the development and protection of investments between the two countries."

He said he agreed with his Djiboutian counterpart to build on existing cooperation in the field of capacity building and training national cadres.

They also discussed opportunities for existing cooperation in the health and medicine sectors, and witnessed today the signing of a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to enhance joint cooperation in the fields of higher education, youth and sports, and media.

“We believe that there are still broader prospects for cooperation between the two countries,” Sisi assured. (MORE)
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