22 May 2008….

 Assistant Foreign Minister for American Affairs and the Organization of American States, Ambassador Hatem Seif El-Nasr held a meeting on May 22^nd with Latin American Ambassadors accredited to Cairo. The meeting comes within the framework of the periodical consultations with the diplomatic corps accredited to Cairo as to develop cooperation in all fields. Assem Ragab, Chairman of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones participated at the meeting as a keynote speaker.

 The meeting gains significant importance in light of the efforts exerted to support economic, commercial and investment cooperation relations between Egypt and Latin American states to be compatible with the historic political cooperation relations between both sides. Egypt is considered the first among Arab and African countries in resident diplomatic exchange with Latin American states, also Cairo is considered the only resident representation headquarters for a number of Latin American states in the region.

 Noteworthy that Latin American states have joined Egypt in its demarche towards the international cooperation development,   in order to support and serve the national development process. The investment cooperation relations between both sides witnessed development during the past years. Latin investments in Egypt witnessed a progress, which represents a response to the Arab-South American Summit resolutions that were asserted during the Conference held on the level of Foreign Ministers in Buenos Aires, February 2008.

 The meeting also tackled the exchange of viewpoints regarding means of supporting bilateral and multilateral international cooperation between both sides. Aboul Gheit's assigned Ambassador Seif El-Nasr to conduct a tour in a number of Latin American states during the first half of June 2008. Ambassador Seif El-Nasr is expected to deliver messages from Aboul Gheit to his Counterparts in Cuba, Salvador, Costa Rica and Commonwealth of Dominica, in addition to discussing development in joint cooperation fields, with senior officials in the above-mentioned states.