Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi participated in a roundtable discussion with top Korean companies and business leaders in Seoul on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The meeting was part of his state visit to the Republic of Korea. According to Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed El-Shinawy, 23 major Korean companies attended the meeting. President El-Sisi praised the strong economic and investment partnership between Egypt and Korea, expressing his desire to elevate their cooperation to more ambitious levels.
President El-Sisi emphasized his appreciation for the significant role Korean companies play in supporting Egypt's comprehensive development efforts. He noted that there is a strong Egyptian will to enhance cooperation with Korea, particularly in areas such as economy, investment, manufacturing, and technology. The President highlighted the steps taken by the Egyptian government to reform the economy, improve the investment climate, and develop the business environment. These measures include a wide-ranging program of structural and economic reforms.
The reforms implemented by Egypt have included the liberalization of the exchange rate, updates to the legislative and regulatory frameworks for investment, and an expansion of the private sector's role in the development process. President El-Sisi pointed out that these efforts have positively impacted Egypt's economic indicators and international ratings, boosting confidence in the Egyptian economy and its ability to attract more investments. He also presented the comprehensive package of investment incentives and facilities offered by Egypt.
These incentives include simplified procedures through a one-stop shop, competitively priced industrial land with advanced infrastructure, and full guarantees for investment protection and profit repatriation. Additionally, Egypt offers specialized training programs for its workforce to align with the needs of modern projects. President El-Sisi expressed Egypt's desire to collaborate with Korea on several strategic priority projects. He renewed his invitation for Korean companies to establish an integrated industrial zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
This zone could serve as a regional production and export hub for Korean companies, not only to meet the demands of the large Egyptian market but also to access regional and global markets. Egypt's strategic location and extensive network of free trade agreements with African countries, the European Union, and Arab states make it an attractive location. President El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt's vision for partnership with Korea goes beyond traditional trade exchange to include industrial localization, technology transfer, capacity building, and innovation.
The President welcomed the establishment of joint industrial and investment partnerships in vital sectors such as shipbuilding, automotive, electronics, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. He also highlighted promising opportunities for cooperation in areas like agriculture, food processing, aquaculture, textiles, and tourism, particularly in new development projects along the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts. Furthermore, President El-Sisi encouraged Korean companies to consider expanding their investments in Egypt's oil, gas, and mining sectors.
He also invited Korean companies to explore opportunities in new and renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, green hydrogen, smart grids, and energy storage technologies. The roundtable discussion was interactive, with participants debating the implementation of strategic and sustainable partnerships between Egypt and Korea. Korean business leaders praised Egypt's efforts to facilitate commercial and investment partnerships and improve the business climate. They expressed their desire to continue working on joint initiatives that benefit both countries.
Key points
- President El-Sisi invites Korean companies to establish an integrated industrial zone in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone.
- Egypt offers a comprehensive package of investment incentives, including simplified procedures and competitively priced industrial land.
- President El-Sisi encourages Korean companies to expand investments in Egypt's oil, gas, mining, and renewable energy sectors.
