GUWAHATI, March 18 � Ambassador of Egypt to India, Dr Mohamed Higazy has expressed his willingness to sign an MoU with the Assam Government for promotion of tourism in the State. To carry forward his plan, the Egyptian envoy sought help from the State Government.
�Tourism sector in the region has really attracted me and, therefore, we want to do something concrete,� Dr Higazy said here today, while participating in a business interactive session organized by the North East Trade Promotion and Development Council in connection with the ongoing 4 th Asom International Trade Fair.
The interactive session was aimed at promoting trade and investment and harnessing tourism potential in the North East.
He also said that river tourism is also another area which can attract substantial foreign investments. �Several Indian companies have developed river tourism in our country, but considering its ( North East) potential, Egyptian companies can explore the opportunities here,� Dr Higazy added. In this context, he advocated arranging a meeting among the tour operators of Egypt and the North East.
Asked about his future plan, the Egyptian envoy informed that he would bring a group of traders to conduct a feasibility study on the region. �We can enhance trade by way of mutual cooperation and involving the traders of both the countries,� he said.
Replying to a question about the action plan prepared last year for boosting trade, Dr Higazy added that he would try to give a final shape in this regard.
Mahesh Deuri of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) who was present in the session, observed that Indo-Egyptian trade has been gaining momentum for the last couple of years. �The traders of the North East can also explore the opportunities in the Egyptian markets,� he added.
The bilateral trade between India and Egypt has been increasing gradually. In 2009, the volume of trade had touched $ 3.5 billion, but the figure would go further in the next couple of years.
