President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met Monday with Helge Lund, Chief Executive of British Gas Group.

Attending the meeting was Petroleum Minister Sherif Ismail.

Sisi welcomed Helge and praised cooperation between the Group and the Ministry, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said.

Sisi was pleased with British Gas activities in Egypt, Youssef added.

Lund congratulated Sisi on the inauguration of the New Suez Canal, which marks the start of a new era of cooperation between Egypt and world countries, Youssef said.

Lund also lauded stances of the political leadership in Egypt and efforts to counter terrorism, the presidential spokesman further said.

Sisi welcomed a desire by British Gas to increase its investments in Egypt, the spokesman added.

He stressed that Cairo is committed to paying dues of oil and gas companies operating on Egyptian soil.

Three billion dollars have been paid by the Egyptian government to oil companies over the past two years, the spokesman said, adding that the government is resolved to pay off other dues to the oil companies operating in Egypt.