Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Tareq Qabil called on Sunday for forming economic alliances between Egypt and all Arab and African countries.

Egypt welcomes any cooperation deal that could achieve mutual interests, he said.

The minister made the statements during the signing ceremony of a deal between the Egyptian Commercial Service Office and the Arab Union of Economy and Business Forum, an offshoot of the Council of Arab Economic Unity.

The deal aims at promoting economic cooperation among the Arab companies and private sectors, Qabil said, adding that the Egyptian companies should play a more active role on the Arab, African and foreign markets during the coming period.