Korea, Egypt Pledge to Deepen Economic Cooperation for the Future

Korea and Egypt have agreed to further strengthen exchanges between senior officials and business leaders to advance economic cooperation. The two countries also committed to deepening discussions on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as an institutional framework to boost trade and investment.

These discussions took place at the “Conference on Korea–Egypt Economic Partnership and Cooperation,” co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Egypt and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), at the Nile Ritz-Carlton in Cairo on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. The event was organized to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, review past achievements, and outline a concrete vision for future cooperation.

In his congratulatory remarks, Korea’s Presidential Envoy Park Beom-kye emphasized that Korea and Egypt are complementary partners, praising Egypt’s economic potential and reform vision. He noted that the Korean government and businesses view Egypt as a new land of opportunity and expressed confidence that the two countries will drive future growth together.

Egypt’s Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, in his keynote speech, reported that Egypt’s GDP grew by 4.5% in the 2024–25 fiscal year, driven by economic reforms and industrial revitalization. He highlighted the government’s efforts to expand exports, expand the industrial base, and create a favorable environment for foreign investors. He also stressed that Korea is a key strategic partner in this process and expressed his hope that the two nations will continue to work closely as economic partners in the years ahead.

The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Korean Ambassador to Egypt Kim Yonghyon, followed by two sessions of in-depth discussions. In Session 1, representatives from KITA, the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) presented on the achievements of the past 30 years and future challenges. In Session 2, chaired by former Egyptian Ambassador to Korea Hany Selim, speakers from the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA), Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), Korea–Egypt Business Council, Samsung Electronics Egypt, and the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES) discussed strategies for sustainable economic cooperation, including the expansion of senior-level and business exchanges and the advancement of FTA discussions.