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Herald Reporter
Egypt will continue to foster the excellent bilateral ties it has with Zimbabwe through establishing more sustainable links, Egyptian ambassador Mr Bassem Khalil has said. Mr Khalil said in an interview Monday that delegates from his country were in Harare negotiating with the Government on resuming direct flights between Harare and Cairo. “We are pushing to resume direct flights from Harare to Cairo and vice versa in order to promote links between the two countries,” he said.
“The flights were suspended on September 24 in order to cater for pilgrims who were travelling to Mecca.”

Mr Khalil said the discussions on the resumption of flights were expected to go on for the next four days. Egypt also took part at this year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani International Expo for the first time.

“Sanganai/Hlanganani is specialised, so I invited Egyptians to come and experience it for themselves,” he said.
“Two exhibitors came and they focused on establishing contacts, information packages and brochures.”

Mr Khalil said although the expo was a success, it could have achieved more if some international exhibitors and buyers had not withdrawn due to fears over Ebola.
“Hopefully, more people will come in future and such scares will end,” he said. Mr Khalil said plans were underway to invite the Egyptian Tourism Minister to Zimbabwe to discuss ways of strengthening relations in the sector.

The agreements to be signed include special exemptions on passports and visas, co-operation in agriculture and co-operation in culture.