Egypt, Lebanon to step up flights, economic cooperation: Investment and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr is set to sign 15 economic cooperation agreements today with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri in the industry, healthcare, trade, tourism, and SME development, Al Borsa reports. The agreements, which come as part of the Egyptian-Lebanese business council’s meetings in Cairo, will see Lebanon import Hepatitis-C meds, cement, and marble from Egypt, while the latter will import larger quantities of Lebanese apples, the newspaper adds. Both countries will set-up a joint pharma federation as part of various initiatives to enhance cooperation between both countries, including an agreement to increase the number of flights between Cairo and Beirut to 23 trips per week. During the council’s meeting on Wednesday, Nasr announced that Egypt will join other Arab countries to establish a union of Arab investment authorities in May.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi also met with El Hariri yesterday, during which the two primarily discussed trade, terrorism and Lebanon’s efforts to absorb Syrian refugees, according to a presidency statement.