The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) hosted a delegation of diplomats and parliamentarians from French-speaking countries at its Ain Sokhna headquarters on Thursday, as part of efforts to promote the zone as a regional investment and industrial hub.
The delegation comprised 68 diplomats and lawmakers from 20 Francophone countries participating in the fifth edition of the diplomatic training program organized by Senghor University, which recently opened its new campus in Borg El Arab, Alexandria.
The program serves as the foundation for establishing the Francophone Diplomats Network (RéDiF), aimed at strengthening cooperation among officials from French-speaking nations.
The visitors were welcomed by Ahmed Gamal, SCZone's Deputy Chairman for the Southern Area, Mostafa Sheikhon, Deputy Chairman for Investment and Promotion, along with senior officials from the authority. Representatives from Senghor University's international relations office also accompanied the delegation.
During the visit, SCZone officials presented the economic zone's role as one of Egypt's key development platforms and a gateway for trade and investment across Africa. They highlighted the zone's strategic location linking Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as its integration of industrial zones and seaports, which has strengthened its appeal as a destination for manufacturing, logistics, and export-oriented industries.
Officials also emphasized that investors operating within the SCZone benefit from Egypt's network of free trade agreements, providing preferential access to regional and international markets serving nearly 2 billion consumers.
The visit reflects Egypt's broader efforts to deepen development cooperation with Francophone and African countries while promoting investment in human capital and economic integration across the continent.
The new Senghor University campus in Borg El Arab was inaugurated earlier this year by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring the importance of educational and development partnerships between Egypt and Francophone Africa.
The delegation concluded its visit with a tour of the Sokhna Industrial Zone, where participants were introduced to manufacturing activities in heavy industries and construction materials. The tour showcased SCZone's efforts to attract foreign investment, localize strategic industries, and facilitate technology transfer, positioning the zone as a potential model for industrial development in Francophone African countries.
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