Egypt has implemented 90% of Russia’s security requirements to resume flights, and four items remain, Russian Federation Council chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko said at a joint presser with House of Representatives speaker Ali Abdel Aal yesterday, Al Shorouk reports. Once Egypt completes the remaining requirements, a Russian delegation will visit to discuss the possibility of resuming flights, which is a step “everyone is waiting to announce as soon as possible,” said Matviyenko — who is in town as part of a larger trade delegation to discuss investments in the Russian Industrial Zone. Russia’s Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov had said last week that flights to Egypt could “in principle” resume in March, and expects Russian carrier Aeroflot to be the first Russian airline to resume flying to Egypt, starting with direct flights to Cairo. Matviyenko also touched on the Daba’a power plant, saying it is a “strategic and the biggest joint project” between Russia and Egypt, and that Moscow is invested in seeing the project through, Sputnik reports.

Matviyenko also met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, during which the two sides discussed Egypt’s fight against terrorism, according to Al Mal. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail discussed with the chairwoman furthering economic cooperation between Russia and Egypt, including in the pharma and steel industries, as well as attracting more Russian investments in gas and oil exploration projects, the newspaper reports.

As for the Russian Industrial Zone, a final agreement establishing it will be signed in May, Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Kabil said, according to Ahram Gate. The signing is expected to take place during meetings of the Russian-Egyptian Joint Committee in Moscow. His statements follow a meeting with Russia’s First Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Gleb Nikitin, who also met with Military Production Minister Mohamed Al Assar to discuss cooperation in manufacturing health and transport equipment, as well as in the auto feeder industry, Daily News Egypt reports.