Supply Minister Khaled Hanafy said an operation to import 3,000 head of cattle from Sudan has started.

This is only part of a deal signed between the two Nile countries, under which Sudan should export 800,000 head of cattle to Egypt over three years, Hanafy said Tuesday on the sidelines of his tour to Abu Simbel city to follow up the delivery of the first batch.

The deal costs some 1.3 billion pounds, the minister said, noting that it is the biggest in the history of trade exchange between Cairo and Khartoum.

Sudanese meat will be available at branches of consumer complexes, as well as private slaughterhouses, Hanafy made it clear.

The agreement stipulates that the imported cattle should be aged between one-and-a-half and two years, the minister further said. Age is an important factor in the quality of the meat, he noted.

Hanafy said that his Ministry, in cooperation with the Agriculture Ministry, is acting to secure grains and fodders for Sudanese cattle farms to avoid a possible increase in prices.

Sudanese meat will be available to consumers for no more than 50 pounds per kilo, he added.

The Egyptian-Sudanese agreement is also meant to tap new Arab and African markets, Hanafy said, stressing that the next stage entails creating economic coalitions with the aim to achieve integration in the region.

Sudanese Trade Minister Mohamed al Hassan said his country is keen on increasing trade exchange with Egypt.

He said Sudanese President Omar al Bashir had ordered him to attend the delivery of the first shipment of cattle to Egypt. This is part of joint cooperation between the two Arab countries, Hassan said.

Sudan is in the process of issuing a bill on consumer protection, Hassan said, noting that the new law will help control the trading of commodities and prevent practices that harm the consumers.

He said the Egyptian government is credited for training Sudanese officials in the field of consumer protection in line with a protocol signed between the two sides to that effect.