Algeria boosts annual gas exports to Egypt to 1.5 mln tons

Algeria has agreed to raise its gas exports to Egypt from one million ton to 1.5 million tons per annum. Speaking at a joint news conference with his visiting Egyptian counterpart Mohammad Kamel Amr, Algerian Foreign Minister Murad Mdelci said Algeria, which supplies Egypt with 50 percent of its gas needs, agreed to boost its gas exports by 50 percent. He added his country will make use of Egypt's experience in the field of advanced technology, textile industry and building materials. On Egypt's reported request for a loan from Algeria, the Algerian foreign minister said he had no information about this issue. For his part, the Egyptian foreign minister said his country is looking forward to receiving more Algerian tourists. He vowed to cut rates of air cargo from Algeria to Egypt. Amr is here as part of a visiting Egyptian delegation led by Prime Minister Hisham Qandil. The delegation includes several cabinet ministers and businessmen.