ATHENS Over 30 private-sector Egyptian companies and government firms have confirmed their participation in an Egyptian products fair to be held in Tehran from June 27 to July this year.

The Cairo-based weekly paper ***** Middle East Times **** quoting the Egyptian international fairs authority said the 2,000 square meters fair will feature Egyptian companies showcasing a wide array of products, including clothes, textiles, furniture, foodstuffs, herbs and pharmaceuticals.

The Head of the Egyptian Trade Chamber Mahmoud al-Arabi said that the Tehran fair was a natural follow-up to the strong participation of Iran in the Cairo International Fair held last March, IRNA reported.

The Iranian participation was followed by the participation of five Egyptian companies in the trade fair held in Tehran in October 1, 2000.

The fair comes in the context of a recent rapprochement between Egypt and Iran, noted the English-language weekly.

In the course of improving relations, the two Muslim countries have worked out a schedule for repayment of Egyptian debt incurred before the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

The improvement in relations is expected to accompanied with an appreciable increase in Iranian investments in Egypt, as well as rising bilateral trade, added the paper.