“There are serious discussions between Cairo and Seoul to implement seawater desalination projects in addition to initial discussions for the use of green hydrogen in many industries,” according to South Korean Ambassador to Egypt Hong Jin-Wook.
Discussions also revolve around the operation of the Suez Canal locomotives with natural gas instead of the current use of petrochemicals.
Hong said that his country cares about the environment and climate friendly industries, and it is likely to cooperate with Egypt in the field of manufacturing electric cars and exporting them abroad.
He added that Egypt is in talks with China and the US in this regard as well.
Hong’s remarks came during a press conference to announce the details of the South Korean President Moon Jae-In’s visit to Egypt, which is scheduled to be on 20 January as part of his three-country Middle Eastern tour that will begin with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“According to Egypt’s 2030 Vision, the government aims to increase the use of renewable energy, which is the same as South Korea’s plans,” Hong said, stressing that this matter will help strengthen future cooperation between the two countries.
He said that there are many Korean investments that export their products through Egypt to different countries, and this indicates the strength of the cooperative relations between the two sides.
The South Korean Ambassador said that Egypt has a strategic location that is central to Europe, Africa, and Asia, in addition to the presence of the Suez Canal, which makes the country a logistical hub in the region.
Furthermore, He revealed that Hyundai Rotem is discussing with an Egyptian company to establish a joint production plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
In terms of the Dabaa nuclear plant, Hong said that during the Korean President’s visit to Egypt, he will be discussing Seoul’s participation in the nuclear plant project.
Hong also mentioned that there is already cooperation between a Korean Authority and Russia in the Dabaa region, but the details will be announced in the future.
“The construction of the Dabaa nuclear plant project will begin this year, and the construction is expected to be completed in 2026, and South Korea will have a role in it,” Hong said.
Regarding cooperation in field of railways, Hong said that the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem is establishing the Luxor-Naga Hammadi railway in Upper Egypt.
He added that cooperation in this field will be bolstered by adding a new station from Luxor to the Aswan High Dam and then to Aswan.
In terms of digital transformation, the Egyptian Patent Office — in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency — has announced the launch of the new online Intellectual Property Management System in September 2021 with a financing budget worth $2.9m.
Hong also expressed his aspiration to see cooperation between South Korean archaeologists with Egypt in the field of excavation and the restoration of antiquities, which would positively attract more Korean tourists to come and visit Egypt.
