Egypt is keen on boosting economic ties with Uzbekistan, the Arab Republic's Trade and Industry Minister Ahmed Samir said on Monday (February 20).

Uzbekistan is an important country in the Central Asian region, Ahmed Samir said during a meeting with visiting Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev earlier in the day.

Besides, Ahmed Samir stressed that the Central Asian republic could serve as a gate for Egyptian exports to Central Asian markets.

Minister Ahmed Samir called for establishing a joint business council to help strengthen economic and trade cooperation. In addition, Ahmed Samir put the volume of bilateral trade last year at about $49.9mn, up 7% on about $46.6mn achieved the year before.

Minister Jamshid Khodjaev highlighted that Tashkent eyes enhanced trade, industrial, and investment cooperation with Cairo. Minister said Egypt is one of the pivotal countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, stressing that Uzbek companies are interested in doing business in the Arab country, especially at the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone).