UPDATED: Egypt giving ‘special attention’ to vehicle conversion initiative: Sisi says at 1st expo on converting vehicles to natural gas

UPDATED: Egypt giving ‘special attention’ to vehicle conversion initiative: Sisi says at 1st expo on converting vehicles to natural gas

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated on Monday the country's first exhibition showcasing technologies for converting vehicles to run on natural gas, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

This comes as part of an Egyptian strategy to convert hundreds of thousands of vehicles to run on natural gas, instead of, or along with, gasoline.

The strategy aims to reduce fuel imports, decrease pollution from harmful emissions, ensure the safety of drivers and passengers, and tap into the potential of unexploited auto factories.

The exhibition, dubbed Go Green, is set to be on show until 6 January at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in Cairo.

The president was accompanied by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Trade and Industry Minister Nevine Gamea, Petroleum Minister Tareq El-Molla, Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir and Local Development Minister Mahmoud Shaarawy, in addition to the presidential advisor for financial affairs Mohamed Amin.

The inauguration was also attended by several representatives from major auto manufacturing companies in Egypt that are participating in the initiative.

At the exhibition, the president reviewed plans and programmes of ministries and government authorities within the framework of the initiative, especially the programmes to finance or facilitate the conversion process for