CAIRO — The third meeting of the Governance Council of the Arab-African Trade Bridges Program kicked off here Monday, chaired by the Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Governor of Egypt at the Islamic Development Bank Group, Dr. Hala El-Said.

The meeting opened in the presence of the CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and Secretary-General of the Arab-African Trade Bridges Program Eng. Hani Sonbol with the participation of several ministers from Arab and African countries, and representatives of international financial institutions.

Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi and Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Osama Bin Ahmed Nuqali too attended the meeting.

In her opening speech, Dr. El-Said said that the meeting represents an opportunity for consultation, exchange of ideas and visions, and a review of successful experiences to enhance the efforts of governments to develop trade between African and Arab countries.

She expressed her country's pride in the process of continuous cooperation with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, which has boosted the financing cooperation portfolio to $13.8 billion. — SPA