First official visit to the Middle East and North Africa highlights deep ties, economic cooperation, and shared commitment to peace, 19 to 22 September 2025.
SINGAPORE, 21 September 2025 – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam called on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, who also hosted a State Banquet. Both Presidents reaffirmed the warm and longstanding relations between Singapore and Egypt, in the lead-up to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2026. Egypt was the first Arab country to recognise Singapore’s independence in 1965. Since then, bilateral relations have grown steadily.
President Tharman and President Al Sisi welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation into new areas such as the health sector, agri-research, technical education, capacity building within government, and smart ports and the maritime sector. Both Presidents agreed that it was timely to explore the feasibility of a free trade agreement between Singapore and Egypt to take advantage of the two countries’ complementary strengths and their strategic locations.
President Tharman thanked President Al Sisi for Egypt’s facilitation of Singapore’s humanitarian assistance for Gaza since November 2023. He welcomed the collaboration between the health ministries, noting that Singapore was the first foreign country that Egypt had allowed to deploy doctors in Egyptian hospitals to provide specialist medical care for Palestinian civilians.
President Tharman also welcomed closer people-to-people ties, exemplified by the generations of students pursuing higher education in Islamic studies at Al Azhar University. President Tharman thanked President Al Sisi for Egypt’s support in the continued cooperation between Al Azhar University and the newly established Singapore College of Islamic Studies.
President Tharman extended an invitation for President Al Sisi to visit Singapore in 2026 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Following their meeting, the two Presidents held a joint press conference and witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the areas of economy, maritime transport, health, agri-research, micro, small and medium enterprises and startup development, capacity building and social protection.
President Tharman also met Egypt Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly, who updated President Tharman on Egypt’s economic development plans and investment opportunities for Singapore companies. The two leaders also agreed that there was scope to step up bilateral economic cooperation and for both sides to work closely together to drive innovation in port, airport and water management.
Source: MFA
