Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, met with Victoria Coates, US President’s Special Assistant and Acting Senior Director for the Middle East at the National Security Council, to discuss efforts exerted by the Egyptian government to develop the oil and gas sector, Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

The meeting reviewed the positive results achieved by the Egyptian sector, including its natural gas self-sufficiency and re-exporting.

Coates expressed her country’s keenness to develop the partnership with Egypt in different fields, especially in the energy field, adding that the US appreciates the role played by Egypt in developing natural gas resources in the Middle East, which empowers the North African country to become a regional natural gas trading hub.

The great developments in the Middle East provide US oil companies with huge opportunities in light of the economic reform in Egypt, which is one of the most important growing natural gas markets in the Middle East, Coates noted.

The meeting was held during the Minister’s visit to the US to attend the CERAWeek.