Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s first visit to Seoul in a decade has brought renewed commitments to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation between the two countries. On Wednesday, Sisi attended a roundtable with executives from major South Korean companies and business representatives, with 23 companies taking part, according to the Egyptian presidency. The Egyptian president expressed his country’s determination to deepen cooperation with South Korea and take relations to more ambitious levels, highlighting Cairo’s strong political will to expand ties, particularly in investment, manufacturing, technology and the wider economy. He also called for closer cooperation on strategically important projects and renewed his proposal to establish an integrated Korean industrial zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The proposed zone could serve as a regional production and export hub for Korean companies, supplying not only Egypt’s large domestic market but also regional and international markets through the country’s free trade agreements with African nations, the European Union and Arab states, he explained. Sisi encouraged Korean companies to expand their investments in oil, gas and mining and explore opportunities in renewable and clean energy projects, including solar and wind power, green hydrogen, smart grids and energy storage technologies. He also highlighted opportunities for Egyptian and Korean companies to undertake joint construction and infrastructure projects in Arab and African countries. According to the presidency, the roundtable included discussions with South Korean business leaders on opportunities to establish sustainable strategic partnerships. Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Mohamed Hegazy believes relations between Egypt and South Korea are poised for significant progress following the visit, which included efforts to broaden cooperation in projects and investment. “South Korea has all the technological capabilities needed to provide what Egypt and Africa require,” Hegazy told Asharq Al-Awsat. Amid regional instability, he expects Seoul and countries such as China, Indonesia and Malaysia to show greater interest in investing in Egypt and through it. Sisi’s visit is part of an Asian trip that also includes Malaysia and Indonesia, according to a presidential statement issued Tuesday. It comes amid critical regional circumstances and disruptions to supply chains. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung welcomed Sisi’s visit in a post on X. “We are delighted to welcome the Egyptian president as an honored guest to the Republic of Korea for the first time in 10 years,” Lee wrote. “Meeting the Egyptian president again in Seoul after our candid discussions in Cairo last year makes this encounter all the more significant and meaningful,” he added. “I hope the Miracle on the Han River and the Miracle on the Nile will come together to further enhance the shared prosperity of our two countries.” Hegazy described Sisi’s Asian trip as reflecting Egypt’s recognition of the importance of Asia in its foreign policy and a direct effort to put the comprehensive strategic economic partnership between the two sides into practice across several sectors. According to Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), trade with South Korea totaled $874 million in the first eight months of 2026, down from $920 million during the same period in 2025. Sisi last visited South Korea in March 2016, when he held talks in Seoul with then-President Park Geun-hye. The visit saw the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding, as well as the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership.
