Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, participated in the celebration organized by the South Korean Embassy on the occasion of South Korea’s National Day and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, representing Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly.

The event was attended by Park Bum-ki, the Korean Presidential Envoy; Kim Young-hyun, South Korea’s Ambassador to Cairo; Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education; Ambassador Amr Hamza, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs; Amal Omar, Chairperson of the National Council for Women; along with representatives of national bodies and foreign ambassadors.

Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the deep Egyptian-Korean relations based on mutual respect and a strong commitment to achieving sustainable development goals, highlighting that over the past three decades, the relationship has been a model of fruitful cooperation and strategic partnership.

She noted that South Korea is one of Egypt’s key Asian partners, with Korean companies actively involved in smart transportation, heavy industries, renewable energy, and digitalization sectors, alongside a notable expansion of Korean investments in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, reflecting the Korean business community’s confidence in Egypt’s investment environment.

The cooperation between the two sides spans priority areas for the Egyptian government including education, vocational training, investment, transportation, energy, trade, and digital transformation, with ongoing major projects such as manufacturing and supplying 320 metro cars for Cairo’s second and third metro lines, supporting Egypt’s efforts to localize railway industry, as well as upgrading signaling systems for Egypt’s railways and improving the public e-procurement system.

She also mentioned a recently signed $10 million grant agreement to enhance vocational training for green vehicle maintenance, in cooperation with the Productivity and Vocational Training Authority under the Ministry of Industry, with more joint cooperation agreements expected soon, reflecting the depth of bilateral relations and commitment to strengthening them.

Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted that future cooperation portfolios with Korea are diverse, with discussions underway on projects in artificial intelligence, education, and digital transformation, stressing that the distinguished relations are not limited to economic fields but also include cultural ties which form a cornerstone of Egypt-South Korea relations.

In conclusion, she underscored the importance of enhancing mutual understanding and future cooperation between Egypt and Korea, reflecting the shared commitment to strengthen economic and developmental relations for positive and tangible impacts on the peoples of both countries and enhancing their ability to face global challenges.