Remarks by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Joint Press Conference at Al Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on 20 September 2025

Your Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi

1. Let me begin by expressing appreciation to President Al Sisi and First Lady Entissar Al Sisi for their gracious hospitality and warm reception to my wife and I on my first State Visit to Egypt. It is in fact my first State Visit to the region, and my delegation and I are honoured to be here.

2. Singapore's friendship with Egypt is longstanding. You were the first Arab country to recognise Singapore's independence in 1965, a move that carried profound significance for Singapore in those uncertain early days. We have never forgotten this.

3. I should also recall, President Al Sisi, your own historic visit to Singapore in 2015 - the first by an Egyptian President. It was a landmark in our relations, and you left a deep impression on our people.

4. For these reasons, we have always regarded Egypt an old and dear friend. And we have both agreed it is now timely to strengthen this relationship, to broaden it, and to make it forward-looking.

5. We are, of course, very different nations in appearance - in scale of land, resources, and population. It cannot escape mention that you also have vastly superior footballing talent. But we are team-mates in a range of fields. And what we are building together will bring benefit for both our peoples - not just today, but for many years to come.

a. The two agreements and 10 MOUs that our government agencies will sign and exchange during my visit reflect our joint commitment to a deeper and more multifaceted partnership.b. They span a wide range of fields. They include cooperation in health such as in combating non-communicable diseases and developing effective hospital information systems. They also cover food security, capacity building, social services, as well as efforts to support SMEs and startups.

c. I thank President Al Sisi for his strong and visionary support for this enhancement of bilateral ties.

6. Singapore believes in Egypt's economic potential. We have been among the largest Asian investors in Egypt over the last decade. President Al Sisi and I discussed how we can take our economic cooperation further. Such cooperation is particularly important when we see protectionist currents rising, and body blows being delivered to an open and fair global economic order.

7. Our business communities are keen to explore and develop market opportunities together. There are already several Singapore companies with a significant presence in Egypt. They include PSA-BDP, Pacific International Lines, and Olam Food Ingredients, each of which is growing its presence in Egypt. Singaporean fashion brand, Charles and Keith, has opened six stores in Egypt.

8. More Singapore companies are keen to tap on Egypt's competitive advantages, including its young and aspiring population, large domestic market and strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

a. Later today, I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and to joining the Egypt-Singapore Business Forum with the Singapore Business Federation and its Council Chairman Teo Siong Seng tomorrow. Our business delegation will also join me on my visit to the Suez Canal Economic Zone or SCZone on Monday.

b. The SCZone was among President Al Sisi's first development initiatives and has become central to Egypt's growth story. It has in fact gathered significant momentum since its launch in 2015, and is attracting substantial global investment. Singapore companies, too, are exploring opportunities in the Zone, recognising its potential as a hub for trade and industry.

9. I hope that more Egyptian companies will also use Singapore as a springboard into Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific. Southeast Asia alone is a region with 670 million people, a growing middle class, and a combined GDP exceeding US$4 trillion.

10. Just as importantly, we are committed to strengthening cooperation in interfaith dialogue and in fostering social cohesion. Both our societies have been working hard to nurture trust across communities.

11. I look forward to meeting both Grand Imam of Al Azhar, His Eminence Prof Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb and His Holiness the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark Tawadros II to listen to their perspectives on this important matter, and to exchange views on how our two countries can work together as we seek to promote interfaith dialogue and social cohesion.

12. Generations of Singaporean students have and continue to benefit from Al-Azhar University's expertise in Islamic Studies - in fact, every Singapore Mufti since our independence was trained at Al-Azhar. Al-Azhar has long been both a pillar of Islamic scholarship, and a beacon of tolerance.

a. Today, we are well on the way to developing the College of Islamic Studies in Singapore, and this will provide yet another platform through which we can strengthen our links. Both the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Nazir Mohammed Ayyad, and the President of Al-Azhar University, Dr Salama Dawood, are members of the Advisory Panel of the College, and I was happy to meet them a few months ago in Singapore.

b. Al Azhar University has also partnered the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) in the setting up and delivery of the Postgraduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies since 2020.

13. President Al Sisi and I also exchanged views on regional developments, including the horrific human toll in Gaza and Israel's growing settlements in the West Bank. Singapore is greatly concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, as well as the prospects for peace in the region.

14. The Singapore Government has consistently supported the rights of the Palestinian people to a homeland of their own. We firmly believe that a negotiated two-state solution, consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, is the only viable path to achieve a comprehensive, just, and durable solution to this longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Singapore will hence continue to support all efforts to achieve the two-state solution.

15. In this context, I commended President Al Sisi for Egypt's leadership, both in providing humanitarian relief and in helping to facilitate ceasefire talks and build a pathway to peace.

16. I also thanked President Al Sisi for Egypt's support in facilitating Singapore's humanitarian efforts. Singapore is doing what we can to help.

a. With Egypt's assistance, our Air Force delivered essential supplies to Al Arish in November 2023, and in January last year our Armed Forces medical team worked alongside the French Armed Forces on board the hospital ship FS Dixmude berthed in Al Arish Port.

b. Tomorrow, I will visit the Egyptian Red Crescent to witness the handover of a further package of support for Gaza's residents from the Singapore Red Cross. The Egyptian Red Crescent plays a crucial role in facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza and medical evacuations from Gaza.

17. I am also pleased to share that two Singapore doctors and one clinician are now at Nasser Institute Hospital, providing care to Palestinian patients from Gaza, as well as training in paediatric renal dialysis and paediatric haematology. This marks the first time Egypt has allowed foreign doctors to be deployed to its hospitals, and we appreciate that this role was accorded to Singapore. We will continue working with Egypt to help civilians from Gaza.

18. President Al Sisi last visited Singapore in 2015, so we are very keen to welcome you again. It would be especially meaningful if we could welcome you and First Lady Entissar Al Sisi to Singapore next year as we commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Egypt.

19. Shukran jazeelan.