Al-Mashat, South Korean Amb. Probe Future Cooperation in 2021

Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Rania Al-Mashat and South Korean Ambassador to Egypt Hong Yin Wook discussed on Friday future avenues of bilateral cooperation for 2021 and the status of ongoing projects in the current year; reaffirming unwavering commitment to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.

To support Egypt’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea provided on Monday medical supplies worth $500,000, which arrived in Egypt over two phases: the first batch contained 227 PCR test kits from Kogene Biotech worth $250,000, and the second batch contained 223,000 KF94 medical masks and 149,000 KF80 masks.

During the meeting, Al-Mashat underlined the significance of the year 2020 for Egypt-South Korea relations, which marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and South Korea, affirming Egypt’s commitment to strengthen bilateral relations and economic diplomacy with South Korea in the long-term.

"South Korea was one of the first countries to support Egypt in the COVID-19 fight, providing cash support of $200,000 to fund emergency health response activities in May as well as additional support provided in November through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) worth $200,000 for the supply of medical equipment, oxygen tank, and CT scanner to a public hospital," Al-Mashat noted.

Al-Mashat added that Egypt has made innovation, digitalization, construction, agriculture, and education as central pillars of its sustainable development cooperation strategy with South Korea.

She also referred to the mutual benefit that Egypt receives from the expertise and experience of South Korea in technology, such as the establishment of the Beni Suef Technological University, which equips Egyptian youth with essential digital skills for the future labor force.

For his part, Hong Yin Wook affirmed South Korea’s commitment to work in partnership with the Egyptian government to confront the COVID-19 crisis and support Egypt’s long-term sustainable development.

The value of the cooperation portfolio between Egypt and South Korea amounts to $458 million, including $390 million in loans and about $68 million in non-refundable grants in several sectors, such as education, transportation, and agriculture.