CAIRO - China's giant automaker Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFM) held discussions with the Egyptian minister of trade and industry over manufacturing electric cars in Egypt, the Egyptian ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"With the production of electric cars in Egypt, the government aims to meet the needs of the local market and then to export to Arab, African and European markets," Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Amr Nassar said in the statement.

The ministry said that DFM is earnestly studying the manufacture of electric cars in Egypt, adding that the government provides investment incentives in this field in the light of global tendency to use electric cars.

"The Chinese corporation could sign a contract of partnership with an Egyptian state-owned production line for cooperation in manufacturing and assembling electric cars," it added.

For his part, Li Zhengrong, vice president of Dongfeng Automobile Co Ltd, a subsidiary of DFM, expressed his company's keenness on entering the Egyptian market as a main one in the Middle East and a key portal for Africa.

He added that DFM has a long expertise in manufacturing electric cars, passenger vehicles and buses, noting that the Chinese automaker will export a number of electric cars to Egypt to test them under the Egyptian climate for any required modifications.