Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria Shareef Nageeb has said that the volume of trade between Nigeria and Egypt in 2009 was more than US $116 million.

He made the statement at Egypt’s National Day celebration in Abuja, adding that there are efforts to raise the volume to the level of its potential by promoting the Nigerian agro products to Egypt and supporting the private sectors of the two nations to expand trade relations.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan has been invited to visit Egypt in a bid to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

“l sincerely believe that tremendous progress has been achieved in the last few years in order to tap from the abundant resources available to the two countries. Important and significant steps were taken in this direction, chief among them was the commitment shared by both governments to strengthen the different aspects of Nigerian-Egyptian relations.

The meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and President Hosni Mubarak in Paris on the margin of Africa-France summit in May, as well as the meeting of the Egyptian Prime Minister and Mr. President in Abuja, this July are signs of the commitment of the leaders of both countries,” he stated.

He said: “The establishment of Nige-ria-Egypt Business Council (NEBC) in Abuja and its twin Council in Cairo, the multiple cultural activities, as well as the increasing contacts at all levels and the growing success of people to people diplomacy are only a few examples of the efforts exerted in this regard.

“The deep-rooted ties of friendship and the cultural affinity shared between Egypt and Nigeria represent a strong and solid foundation, not only for the bilateral relation between our two countries but also for the benefit of the African continent,” he said.

Hussaini Umar