Egyptian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ashraf al-Arabi and Danish Minister of Development Cooperation Christian Bach have discussed turning Egypt’s $60 million debt to Denmark to development aids.

Discussions between the two ministers included the possibility of acquiring new aids from funds the Danish government allocated for the Arab spring countries.

Some European countries launched a programme years ago that transforms debts to development projects in indebted countries with European institutions overseeing these projects.

According to a statement for the Ministry of Planning issued on Wednesday, this visit is “the first of its kind for a Danish official since the January 25 revolution which reflects Denmark’s interest in enhancing the bilateral relations between the two countries especially in economic and developmental areas.”

Al-Arabi called for increasing Danish investments in Egypt which have reached $500 million by the end of last June.