Minister Cannon Completes Successful Visit to Egypt

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, completed a visit to Egypt where he took part in comprehensive talks with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues. Minister Cannon also met with Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif.

During their meeting, ministers Cannon and Aboul Gheit committed to pursuing further discussion on enhanced cooperation in a number of areas, including regional and multilateral issues such as combating piracy, and maintaining security and peacekeeping efforts, both in the field and as part of the United Nations agenda. Minister Cannon expressed his hope to receive Minister Aboul Gheit in Canada in the near future to continue the dialogue.

“These meetings reaffirmed the importance of Canada’s multi-dimensional relationship with Egypt, and our support for its key role in helping to bring about long-term peace in the Middle East,” said Minister Cannon.

Minister Cannon also met with members of the Canada Egypt Business Council where he expressed appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to open its economy during these tough economic times, and explored opportunities to enhance two-way trade and investment.

“We are pleased to see some significant Canadian commercial success stories between Canada and Egypt. Egypt is Canada’s fifth-largest market in North Africa and the Middle East, with exports exceeding $600 million,” said Minister Cannon. “Canada looks forward to increased trade and investment with Egypt, especially in priority sectors such as agriculture, information and communication technologies, and service industries.”

The Minister’s trip to Egypt immediately followed his participation at the Friends of Democratic Pakistan meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.