Thai Firms Explore Investment Opportunities in Egypt as Bilateral Trade Surges 37%

A delegation comprising 27 Thai companies is exploring investment opportunities in Egypt, as bilateral trade between the two countries approached $1 billion last year, marking a 37% annual increase and underscoring deepening economic ties.

The delegation, largely representing the food industries sector, participated in the Egyptian–Thai Business Forum hosted by Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) in partnership with the Egyptian Businessmen’s Association. 

The Thai mission was headed by Orasa Mongkolnavin, Director-General of the Department of South Asia, Middle East and Africa Affairs at Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The forum comes amid accelerating trade flows between Cairo and Bangkok. Officials said the near-$1 billion trade volume recorded over the past year reflects the growing strength of the partnership and opens the door for expanded cooperation in priority sectors.

Mohamed Farouk Sabry, Chairman of the Egyptian–Thai Business Council, said both nations benefit from strategic geographic positions and trade agreements that position them as regional gateways, Egypt to Africa and the Middle East, and Thailand to Southeast Asia.

He described the forum as a new launchpad for deepening economic relations and unlocking broader business opportunities, particularly in food processing, tourism, and logistics.

During the opening session, Ahmed Bedeawy, Commercial Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of Investment Promotion at GAFI, outlined investment incentives and opportunities across Egypt’s industrial zones and free zones, including the Suez Canal Economic Zone. He also highlighted recent trends in foreign direct investment inflows into Egypt.

On her part, Mongkolnavin said Thailand’s economic strategy prioritizes high-potential sectors such as the digital economy, value-added food production, climate-resilient agriculture, clean energy, and electric vehicles, areas she noted align closely with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and Africa’s broader development agenda.

Thailand’s ambassador to Cairo emphasized Egypt’s strategic importance as a gateway for expanding Thai commercial presence in Africa, citing its geographic location and extensive regional trade networks. The visit program included site tours and bilateral meetings between Egyptian and Thai companies aimed at laying the groundwork for joint ventures.

The forum concluded with business-to-business meetings in the food industries sector, a move intended to translate discussions into concrete investment partnerships that would further boost trade and capital flows between the two nations.

With trade momentum building and policy priorities increasingly aligned, officials on both sides signaled that the current engagement could mark a turning point in Egyptian–Thai economic cooperation.