CAIRO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Prime Minister Hesham Qandil on Tuesday inaugurated the 46th Cairo International Fair ( CIF) at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nasr City.
During the fair, which will be wrapped up on March 29, various products from 16 foreign countries are being displayed. Japan is marked as this year's CIF guest of honor.
Present at the fair are China, Turkey, Thailand, Algeria, Sudan, Belgium and Kuwait along with several countries worldwide as the fair hosts more than 750 Egyptian and foreign companies.
The CIF presents a broad range of products including textile and carpets, furniture, fashion items, cosmetics, chemical and construction materials, machinery and equipment, computers and electric household appliances.
The fair, which is considered as one of the most important commercial events in the Middle East and Africa, aims at creating favorable conditions for local and foreign enterprises to expand economic cooperation and stimulate export and import activities along with displaying new products and services.
Speaking to reporters, Egyptian Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Hatem Saleh said that the fair "played a vital role in developing the economic and trade relations between Egypt and other participating states over the past years."
Saleh pointed out that such fairs are very important for increasing the national income.
