Egypt pitched its Suez Canal Economic Zone and status as a strategic gateway to African markets to attract new South Korean investments on Tuesday, while declaring its water security an “existential issue” during talks on regional crises.
The investment push came during the first round of the Egypt-South Korea Strategic Dialogue in Seoul between Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, and his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun. The talks aimed to build upon the outcomes of the South Korean president’s visit to Egypt in November 2025 and increase high-level reciprocal visits.
Abdelatty highlighted recent economic and structural reforms that have improved Egypt’s business climate and market attractiveness, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf. The minister outlined incentives for foreign investors, including streamlined procedures and the provision of industrial land, while calling for the activation of a joint business council and the launch of an annual bilateral economic forum.
Emphasising Egypt’s competitive advantage under the African Continental Free Trade Area, Abdelatty invited South Korea to participate in the inaugural “El Alamein-Africa” Business Forum being hosted by Egypt this month. He also proposed trilateral cooperation in infrastructure and renewable energy across the continent, referencing a 2024 memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development and the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
Acknowledging South Korea’s selection of Egypt as a strategic partner for development cooperation, Abdelatty sought new Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects in education, science, technology, and human resources. He suggested providing trained Egyptian labour for Korean companies operating in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as helping to fill gaps within the South Korean labour market.
The ministers also discussed rapid regional and international developments, including United States-Iran negotiations and the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Lebanon. Abdelatty addressed the security situations in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, stressing that water security remains an existential issue for Egypt.
In response, Cho praised the depth of bilateral ties and expressed a desire to elevate relations across all sectors. The South Korean minister also commended Egypt’s pivotal and constructive role in supporting security and stability in the Middle East.
