Sharm el Sheikh is safe and ready for hosting the 2016 World Economic Forum(WEF) in May, the South Sinai governor said.

"We are waiting for the decision of the political leadership and the WEF to host the international event," Khaled Fouda said.

In statement to MENA on the fringe of two-day forum on Arab world investment issues held in Aqaba, Fouda said several measures were taken to refresh tourism in Sharm el Sheikh, noting that the city has recently hosted several international events during the past period.

He noted that Sharm el Sheikh hosted a mass mourning of the victims of the ill-fated Russian plane that crashed in the Red Sea resort city, adding that a large number of foreign ambassadors attended the event.

Meanwhile, he noted that the twinship deal signed on Wednesday between Sharm El Sheikh city and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) was meant to boost cooperation between the two sides, especially in the tourism, cultural, artistic, Educational, environmental and sports domains.

Under the deal, exhibitions, festivals and conferences will be held to post people on the culture and history of the two cities.

In addition, the deal will contribute to boosting trade between the two sides, he said.

He added that the deal will help launching a direct airline between the two cities and operating a vessel between Aqaba and Sharm el Sheikh.