Housing Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with a delegation of French businessmen and companies working in construction and utilities, funding institutions and consultancy firms on the sidelines of French President Francois Hollande's current visit of the country.

The French delegation was very keen to learn about investment opportunities and development projects offered by the government, while giving special focus on projects at the new administrative capital, new El Alamein and east Port Said, the minister said on Monday.

French consultancy firms officials expressed desire to participate in the planning and design of the new administrative capital, while funding institutions officials offered loans to the New Urban Communities Authority to carry out different projects, Madbouly said.

The French delegation also included companies working in the drinking water and drainage field and proposed to participate in establishing sewage treatment plants, he added.