In a special roundtable discussion hosted by Sada El Balad English (SEE), Editor-in-Chief Mohamed Wadie welcomed the Ambassador of Singapore to Egypt for an in-depth conversation on the longstanding ties between the two nations.
The session brought together leading journalists from Rose Al Youssef, Al-Bawaba News, ANSA Italy, and SEE News, reflecting the broad media interest in this increasingly strategic relationship.
Opening the dialogue, Mr. Wadie highlighted the deep-rooted friendship between Singapore and Egypt, which has spanned over six decades and is grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and common aspirations for regional peace and prosperity. In response, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude for the invitation and the opportunity to engage with such a distinguished group of media professionals.
The conversation began with Ms. Hoda from Rose Al Youssef asking about the significance of the recent presidential visit. The Ambassador emphasized that this was President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s first official trip to the Middle East—and he chose Egypt as his first stop. Spanning four days, longer than the typical presidential visit, the trip underscored Egypt’s strategic importance to Singapore. He noted that Egypt was the first Arab country to recognize Singapore’s independence in 1965, and diplomatic relations were quickly established, reflecting deep historical ties that continue to evolve.
She also asked about cultural and educational exchanges. The Ambassador explained that around 200 Singaporean students, largely from the country’s Muslim minority, are studying at Al-Azhar University—widely respected for promoting moderate, tolerant Islam. He emphasized how this educational bridge helps strengthen social harmony in Singapore’s multi-religious society, and underlined Al-Azhar’s crucial role in training future religious leaders.
Mr. Wadie, moderating, asked about Singapore’s view of Egypt’s role in supporting Gaza. The Ambassador was direct: Egypt is the central hub for humanitarian aid to Gaza, with over 70% of aid passing through its borders, according to UN data. He recounted the Singaporean president’s visit to the Egyptian Red Crescent, where he oversaw the delivery of $1 million in aid from the Singapore Red Cross. In total, Singapore has contributed $20 million in aid to Gaza since October 2023, most of it through Egypt. He also praised Egypt’s diplomatic leadership in ceasefire negotiations and reconstruction planning.
On tourism, Mr. Wadie asked what steps are being taken to promote travel between the two countries. The Ambassador said the President’s visit showcased Egypt’s historic and cultural sites to Singaporean audiences. The Grand Egyptian Museum, pyramids, and Red Sea resorts featured prominently in Singaporean media coverage. He added that Neon, a Singaporean company, is leading the international tour of the Ramses II exhibition, further promoting Egypt’s heritage on a global scale.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hossam from ANSA Italy shifted the focus to maritime and economic cooperation. Noting Singapore’s global port status, he asked about the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
The Ambassador smiled and clarified, “Singapore is not just the second busiest port in Asia—but in the world,” often competing with Shanghai. He praised Port Said for being ranked the third-best port globally and highlighted the visit by President Tharman and 27 business delegates to the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The visit reflected growing interest in cooperation across logistics, smart ports, and maritime innovation—areas where both countries have strategic assets.
Mr. Mandour from Sada El Balad asked about President El-Sisi’s proposal for Singapore to use Egypt as a hub for access to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Ambassador confirmed that Singapore strongly supports this idea. President Tharman encouraged Singaporean companies to consider Egypt as a strategic gateway, while also proposing that Egyptian businesses use Singapore as an entry point to Asian markets. He noted that while Egyptian firms are familiar with African markets and Singaporean firms are strong in Asia, collaboration between the two could unlock major opportunities.
Dr. Ahmed of Al Bawaba questioned why Singaporean investment in Egypt remains limited despite decades of friendly ties. The Ambassador responded that Singapore is already Egypt’s fifth-largest Asian investor, with $700 million across sectors such as agriculture, logistics, IT, and food processing. However, he acknowledged the potential for more, pointing to Egypt’s large consumer market and its geographic positioning. He said the recent delegation visit aimed to identify new sectors and deepen economic links.
He also about free trade and how Singapore might benefit from Egypt’s trade agreements with countries representing over 3 billion people. The Ambassador explained that Singapore, like Egypt, faces U.S. tariffs on several product categories, including aluminum and steel. He noted that a free trade agreement between Egypt and Singapore was proposed during the visit and is under consideration, alongside plans to position Egypt as an African/European hub and Singapore as an Asian gateway.
Mr. Hossam then raised the topic of industrial services, in which Singapore is a global leader. The Ambassador responded that while most current cooperation is in investment and goods, the service sector—including industrial outsourcing—could become a focus in the future as trade and institutional agreements develop.
On cultural matters, Mr. Mandour asked about collaboration in literature and drama. The Ambassador noted that most Singaporean literature is written in English, making it easier to translate. He welcomed the idea of cooperation with Egypt’s National Translation Center, although he acknowledged that Singaporean TV dramas are not yet widely exported—unlike popular Turkish, Japanese, or Korean series that enjoy significant Egyptian viewership.
Ms. Hoda revisited the President’s visit to Al-Azhar and the Coptic Orthodox Church, asking what message this sent internationally. The Ambassador replied that the visits were meant to demonstrate Singapore’s commitment to interfaith tolerance and peaceful coexistence—core values of both Singapore and Egypt. He also revealed that two technical education agreements were signed during the visit, with support from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore, focusing on teacher training and vocational curriculum development.
Wrapping up the conversation, Mr. Wadie invited the Ambassador to share personal impressions of Egypt. The Ambassador said he enjoyed visiting Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, El Alamein, the North Coast, and Sharm El Sheikh, and that living in Cairo and Giza had been both comfortable and welcoming. What surprised him most, he said, was the warmth and friendliness of Egyptians, contrasting with media portrayals of instability. “Egypt is an oasis of stability in a turbulent region,” he said, noting that this was the message conveyed to the Singaporean delegation: Egypt is safe for business, tourism, and daily life.
On mutual media exchange, the Ambassador admitted that there are currently no official delegations between Singaporean and Egyptian media, but emphasized the importance of developing that area in the future.
The interview closed on a lighter note when Mr. Wadie asked about Egyptian food. The Ambassador smiled as he shared his love for Egyptian breakfast, especially foul, taamiya, white cheese, and baladi bread, along with molokhia and Om Ali, which he called personal favorites.
As Egypt and Singapore approach the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, the Ambassador expressed optimism that bilateral ties—already strong—will only continue to expand across all fields: from trade and tourism to education and diplomacy.
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