President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with the US Energy Secretary Rick Perry to discuss US investments in the area of exploration and production (E&P) and petrochemicals in Egypt, according to the Official Spokesman of the Egyptian Presidency, Bassam Rady.

El Sisi underscored Egypt’s interest in strengthening the bilateral strategic relations with the U.S. across the various aspects.

This was during a meeting held in Montazah Palace in Alexandria, on the sidelines of the second ministerial meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, EMGF, in the presence of Tarek El Molla, the Minister of Petroleum.

President El Sisi and Perry emphasized that the new gas discoveries help in transforming the region’s latent resources into real investment opportunities for the benefit of the coming generations, as well as support Egypt’s strategy to become a regional energy hub.

The President pointed out to the forum’s role in unlocking the latent potential of gas reserves in the region that shall develop a regional gas market that serves the interests of country members, enhances trade between them and leverages their resources.

The meeting also tackled Egypt’s ongoing efforts to expand new renewable energy projects as well as its efforts to become a bridge to transfer electricity from the region’s countries to European countries.