The Presidency
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Mrs. Entissar El-Sisi received the President of the Republic of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and his spouse, Mrs. Jane Yumiko Ittogi, at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, as part of the Singaporean President’s official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said upon the arrival of the President of Singapore and his spouse, an official reception ceremony was held. The Honor Guard rendered its salute, and the national anthems of Egypt and Singapore were played. A commemorative photo was then taken of the two presidents, followed by a private one-on-one meeting. Talks later expanded to include both countries’ delegations.
The discussions addressed ways to strengthen bilateral relations. President El-Sisi affirmed the broad prospects for developing economic and investment cooperation in light of Egypt’s diverse and attractive investment opportunities that have drawn significant interest from Singaporean companies in recent years.
The discussions also covered trade, port management, digital transformation, and cultural cooperation. The President of Singapore expressed his appreciation for the leading role of Al-Azhar in disseminating and teaching Islamic principles to Singaporean students.
The President of Singapore praised Egypt’s development boom and the promising investment opportunities it offers. He extended an invitation to the President to make a state visit to Singapore next year, coinciding with celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. President El-Sisi welcomed the invitation.
The meeting addressed both regional and international developments of mutual interest, mainly the situation in the Middle East. The President reviewed Egypt’s efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, and release hostages and captives. Both presidents emphasized their rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land.
The President expressed his appreciation for the humanitarian aid provided by Singapore to the people of Gaza via Egypt, referring to the challenges that hinder the delivery of adequate aid. For his part, the President of Singapore commended the vital role played by Egypt, under the leadership of President El-Sisi in supporting regional stability and security.
During the visit, several memoranda of understanding were signed in the fields of agriculture, health, maritime transport, social protection, support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, as well as strengthening economic partnerships and training government personnel.
President El-Sisi’s Speech at the Joint Press Conference with President of Singapore
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”
Your Excellency President Tharman Shanmugaratnam
President of the Republic of Singapore,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome today His Excellency President Tharman, President of the Republic of Singapore, to Cairo. This visit constitutes a new step forward in our diplomatic relations, which are approaching their 60th anniversary in a few months. Throughout this history, these relations have proven to be strong and distinguished, driven by mutual respect, understanding, and consensus on many regional and international issues.
Egypt is proud to have been among the early countries to recognize Singapore’s independence in 1965. It was also the first Arab and African country to recognize it, laying the foundations for a solid and long standing friendship and understanding with Singapore to this day. We look forward to strengthening these relations in the future.
Today, I discussed with His Excellency President Tharman the future of relations between Egypt and Singapore and means to advance them to broader horizons, particularly on the economic and cultural levels, in the field of exchanging expertise and building capacities, as well as cooperation with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.
We discussed ways to maximize investment and trade cooperation between Egypt and Singapore, which has witnessed significant progress in recent years. We aim to elevate it to higher levels that are commensurate with the distinguished political relations between our two countries and the potential of both countries. I affirmed our openness to providing all support to Singaporean investments and increasing trade between the two countries, given the wide opportunities to revitalize and expand it.
Honorable guests,
There is no doubt that the vast potential Singapore possesses in trade and investment and the attractive investment environment Egypt enjoys and the progress it has made in developing its economic environment recently qualify us to establish a distinguished economic partnership that extends to the Middle East and Africa. This is in light of the fact that Egypt is a natural gateway to establish qualitative partnerships between Egypt and Singapore in investment and trade projects in many countries in the Middle East and Africa.
I would like to seize this opportunity to renew my call to all public and private institutions and companies in Singapore to invest more in the Egyptian market, which is seeing a significant boom in many fields that has enabled it to attract huge investments in recent years from various countries, including Singapore. We hope that the Egyptian-Singaporean Business Forum, which will be held in conjunction with this important visit, will achieve significant steps to raise trade and investment between the two countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We emphasized the importance of effectuating the exchange of expertise, training programs, and capacity building in many areas of mutual interest, mainly maritime and air transport, information and communications technology, governance, environmental conservation, renewable energy, among others. Both Egypt and Singapore have made significant strides in these areas in recent years, and it would be beneficial for both sides to identify further areas of cooperation.
In this context, we witnessed today the signing of several agreements and MoUs in the fields of agriculture, health, maritime transport, training, and economic partnership enhancement. This confirms the great prospects for strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
On the political level, I discussed with His Excellency President Tharman the critical turning point and exceptional circumstances that the Middle East is facing, particularly the Palestinian issue. I discussed Egypt’s efforts to stop the war in Gaza and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, in light of the exacerbating crisis the Palestinian people are suffering as a result of the brutal Israeli practices, particularly in light of the expansion of military operations in the Gaza Strip.
I reiterated Egypt’s firm position against the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land and the rejection of the liquidation of the Palestinian cause. I emphasized that a just and comprehensive peace and stability in the region will not be achieved without granting the Palestinian people their legitimate rights and the establishment of their independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders. I sensed a strong agreement with His Excellency President Tharman on our vision for ways to end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
I also seize this opportunity to express to His Excellency the President Egypt’s deep appreciation for the relief aid that Singapore has provided and continues to provide to the Palestinian people in their current ordeal. This reflects Singapore’s significant humanitarian commitment to the plight of our Palestinian brothers.
Once again, I welcome His Excellency President Tharman to Cairo. I wish him all the best and the people of Singapore conitnued progress and prosperity.
I now invite His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore to deliver his speech.
