Egypt meeting with commodities firms on hub project -minister

Egypt's supplies minister has begun holding meetings with international commodities trading companies with whom he wants the government to partner in an ambitious plan to transform the country into a global trading hub.

aims to turn Egypt into a centre for processing and re-exporting millions of tonnes of wheat,, one of a number of mega-projects announced by the government, aims to turn Egypt into a centre for processing and re-exporting millions of tonnes of wheat, soybeans, sugar and other commodities via a new port and also envisages the creation of the region's first commodities mercantile exchange.

Minister Khaled Hanafi told Reuters on Tuesday he had been approached by "very big companies and traders", including those in the grain storage business, to consider proposals which the government says will boost the economy and create jobs.