The Minister of Petroleum Tarek El Molla met with US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in his first visit to Cairo and discussed the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the petroleum and gas sectors, Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

This came during the arrangement of the second East Med Gas Forum conference with the participation of the East Med Seven countries.

Eng Abed Ezz El Regal; CEO Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), First Undersecretary for Agreements and Exploration; Ashraf Farag and the Chairman of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding (EGAS) Osama El Bakly attended the meeting. While from the US side, the Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Frances Fannon, and Chargé d’Affaires of the United States in Egypt, Thomas Goldberger came along the US delegation.

According to Perry, the US participation in East Med Gas Forum comes in support of the partnership between Egypt and the Mediterranean countries.

Perry stressed that Egypt is a reliable source of energy and should be provided all the expertise and technologies to enhance its natural position as the region’s energy hub. He added that US companies are ready to expand, invest and work in Egypt.

El Molla said that the oil sector’s positive changes encouraged many international oil companies (IOCs) to work and invest for the first time in Egypt for exploration and production (E&P) activities, as ExxonMobil has sought to expand its activities in the country.