- Leaders discuss FTA during President Shanmugaratnam’s Cairo visit with Al Sisi.
- MoUs signed on maritime, startups, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare.
- Cooperation includes smart port projects, MSME digitization, and sustainable healthcare initiatives
Singapore and Egypt have decided to explore the viability of a free trade agreement (FTA) as both nations seek to enhance economic collaboration and strengthen their enduring partnership.
The declaration was made during the official trip of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Cairo, where he conversed with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi before the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026.
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that both leaders concurred it was “timely” to explore the possibility of an FTA, emphasizing the complementary strengths and strategic positions of the two nations.
While on their visit, the two presidents observed the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) related to maritime collaboration, business growth, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare.
Key agreements include a maritime collaboration MoU between the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) and Egypt’s Ministry of Transport to develop a digital map of logistics routes, ports, and industrial areas, along with initiatives for capacity enhancement and project financing.
An additional agreement between SCE and the Ministry of Planning specified wider collaboration in ports, maritime digitalization, and cybersecurity, while also backing a feasibility study to convert West Port Said into a Smart Port.
Regarding enterprise development, SCE and Egypt’s MSME and Startups Development Agency reached an agreement to work together on digitizing the national MSME platform, formulating strategies for startups, and enhancing institutional capacity.
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In the social sector, Singapore's Ministry of Social and Family Development and Egypt's Ministry of Social Solidarity engaged in policy exchange and capacity enhancement in fields such as social services, family development, women's empowerment, and social enterprises.
Health and agriculture were also significant, with agreements encompassing medical biotechnology, elder care, sustainable healthcare infrastructure, and extensive rice farming on reclaimed desert terrain, including the creation of climate-resilient varieties.
A memorandum of understanding between Singapore’s Civil Service College and Egypt’s National Training Academy will bolster collaboration in the public sector and improve leadership, governance, and administration.