Singapore and Egypt sign wide-ranging cooperation deals
Agreements cover smart port development and vocational training
West Port Said port. Photo source: Suez Canal Economic Zone
Singapore and Egypt signed a series of cooperation agreements during President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s recent visit to Cairo, paving the way for Singaporean organisations to expand into sectors from maritime logistics to digitalisation and education in the North African country.
Key among the agreements is a plan for Singaporean firms to help Egypt digitalise West Port Said, situated at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal, with the aim of transforming it into a smart port modelled on Singapore’s own.
Egypt is also courting investment from Singapore in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), a 460 sq km industrial area with six ports. Walid Gamal El-Din, chairman of the SCZone, proposed creating a dedicated Singaporean industrial zone within the SCZone. He invited Singaporean companies to participate in projects to develop and operate port terminals, along with bunkering services using conventional or green fuels.
The two governments further agreed to study the feasibility of a free trade agreement. Tharman stressed that Singapore was not a competitor to Egypt, noting that its economy specialises in producing components and intermediate goods that could support Egypt’s export industries. Bilateral trade in 2024 amounted to US$93m of Egyptian exports to Singapore – mostly mineral fuels, fruit, nuts and clothing – against US$394m of imports from Singapore, led by mineral fuels, pharmaceuticals and machinery.
Among the memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed were agreements between Singapore Cooperation Enterprise and the Egyptian government on maritime transport, digitalisation and small business development. ITE Education Services, the business arm of Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education, signed MoUs to provide consultancy on technical and vocational training and a hospitality school project. Meanwhile, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory inked an agreement covering large-scale rice cultivation on reclaimed desert land. Furthermore, Cairo signalled interest in cooperation on renewable energy and water desalination.
Egypt has also sought to deepen ties through the Africa-Singapore Business Forum, held in August. Hossam Heiba, chief executive of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, held a roundtable with 30 Singaporean companies and met individually with firms interested in Egypt. These included Leo Electric, focused on electric mobility; Capella Hotel Group, a luxury hospitality operator; the Kuok Group, with interests from agribusiness to shipping; and ceEntek, a low-carbon construction materials company. He also discussed expansion plans with existing Singaporean investors in Egypt such as consumer goods producer Tolaram and engineering consultancy Meinhardt.
References
'GAFI CEO showcases latest developments in Egypt’s investment climate at the Africa–Singapore Business Forum', GAFI, 03 September 2025
'State visit by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to the Arab Republic of Egypt, 19 to 22 September 2025', Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, 21 September 2025
‘State visit by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to the Arab Republic of Egypt’, 19 to 22 September 2025’, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, 21 September 2025
'Walid Gamal El-Din: The Singaporean President's visit is an opportunity to discuss cooperation in areas of common interest with Singaporean companies', Suez Canal Economic Zone, 22 September 2025
'Egypt, Singapore explore strategic cooperation in investment, digital transformation', Daily News Egypt, 21 September 2025
'Singapore to assist Egypt to digitalise port after talks between presidents Tharman and Sisi', The Straits Times, 23 September 2025
'About', Suez Canal Economic Zone, Accessed on 26 September 2025
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‘Bilateral trade between Egypt and Singapore’, International Trade Centre, Accessed on 26 September 2025
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