Turkish Ambassador to Cairo, Salih Mutlu Şen, stated that Turkish companies are actively seeking expansion and new investment opportunities in Egypt, particularly in the textile sector, alongside other industries. Daily News Egypt sat down with Şen to discuss the prospects for cooperation between the two countries and explore potential areas of partnership.
Will there be any economic or official visits from the Turkish side to Egypt in the coming period? And when?
As you know, in 2024, we held three heads-of-state-level visits between Türkiye and Egypt. President Erdoğan visited Egypt bilaterally and on the occasion of the D-8 Summit in February and December, two times. And President Al-Sisi visited on the fourth of September. Therefore, this year we can also expect ministerial-level visits.
In fact, recently, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, Badr Abdelatty, was in Türkiye for a bilateral visit. It was a productive and important visit. Abdelatty was also received by President Erdoğan, besides his bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. So, I would expect that His Excellency, the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, would be visiting Egypt this year. I think that visit will also serve as an occasion to prepare for the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, headed by the two Presidents.
Additionally, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities was recently in Türkiye to receive 152 repatriated Egyptian artifacts. Therefore, I also expect contact visits between the two trade ministers of Türkiye and Egypt because, as I always say, the backbone of our relations is in trade and economy. There are many agenda items that should be discussed, and concrete steps should be taken, such as Ro-Ro transportation between Türkiye and Egypt. The resumption of Ro-Ro transportation is expected to give a significant boost to our trade and transportation. I also assume there might be several other ministerial visits.
No certain date is fixed at this moment, but they will happen. I believe all this will take place probably in autumn, but international developments might necessitate urgent visits or multilateral meetings that may also serve as occasions for official visits on both sides.
What is Türkiye’s position regarding the American stance and the issue of displacing Palestinians to Sinai, and will Türkiye support the Egyptian proposal for reconstruction that is being prepared?
Türkiye’s position on displacing Palestinians from Gaza is clear. We reject any such initiative. In fact, we have been observing and opposing this from the very beginning of the conflict. Egypt has been steadfast and consistent in its position. The Palestinians of Gaza cannot be displaced or resettled anywhere—neither in Sinai nor anywhere else. Gazans should stay in their home, on their territory. Türkiye’s position is exactly the same as Egypt’s. It is critical that Gazans stay and live peacefully and securely in their homes, most of which have been demolished.
However, the international community, Arab and Islamic countries in particular, are ready and capable of rebuilding Gaza quickly. It does not have to take 10 or 15 years. We do not yet know the exact details of Egypt’s reconstruction plan, but given its role as the most important country with multifaceted interests in Gaza’s political and humanitarian situation, I am confident Egypt’s proposal will be very convincing and practical. I am completely convinced that whatever Egypt, the Arab League, and Islamic countries agree upon, based on the Egyptian initiative for rebuilding Gaza without displacing Gazans, would be a welcome development. I am sure Türkiye will support it.
In fact, we are already actively engaged in humanitarian assistance, particularly in providing shelter for Gazans whose homes have been demolished. We are prepared to work closely with Egypt, including shipments of container homes, tents, and other urgently needed materials for sheltering the affected people.
We have both the political will and the capability to provide substantial support in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. However, no single country can undertake this effort alone. Cooperation and pooling of resources are necessary. Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries, the United Nations, and the EU must work together to ensure the reconstruction process is completed as soon as possible, ideally within a few years.
What is new regarding Türkiye’s intention to establish a logistics zone in Egypt? When can the agreement be signed, and what is the size of the allocated investments?
We have signed two agreements. Our Turkish company, Polaris, has signed agreements regarding the establishment of industrial zones in Egypt. They already operate three industrial zones, and progress is advancing quickly on these new projects. One zone is in the 6th of October City. I recently met with the CEO and managing director of Polaris, who updated me on recent developments. As far as I understand, land allocation for the project is ready for both the 6th of October City and the New Administrative Capital.
I also know that Polaris has other new projects and is in discussions with the Egyptian government regarding additional industrial zones and further land allocations for investment. The total finalized area is five million square meters, which is expected to house 1,000 factories operating in various fields. This is particularly important for Turkish companies, especially in the textile sector.
Will we see new Turkish companies in Egypt in new economic sectors? When is this expected, and what are the most prominent sectors that Turkish companies are interested in?
Turkish companies are actively seeking expansion and new investment opportunities in Egypt, particularly in textiles but also in other sectors. There are so many initiatives at various stages—some have opened, some have expanded, and others are in negotiations with Egyptian authorities, such as GAFI and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Many textile companies are not only expanding minimally but are doubling or tripling their capacities, adding new factories to their sites. The same applies to other Turkish industries, such as glass and home appliances. For example, BEKO has recently begun producing ovens and refrigerators in 10th of Ramadan City. They are now working to increase their capacity by adding a third shift to operate at night, allowing them to maximize production.
What is the expected percentage of increase in trade volume between Egypt and Türkiye?
In 2024, I estimate a minimum of $500m in additional Turkish investment in Egypt, whether through new ventures or expansion. Trade volume is expected to increase by 10-15%. In 2023, bilateral trade was at $8.8bn, with a healthy balance between exports and imports. We aim to reach a trade volume of $10bn this year.
However, several steps must be taken to facilitate trade and investment. I see the Egyptian government taking concrete measures in this direction, which is promising.
What cultural and sports events are planned for the centennial of Türkiye-Egypt diplomatic relations?
We have an exciting lineup of cultural and sporting events this year to celebrate 100 years of diplomatic ties. A highlight will be a soccer match between the U-19 national teams of Türkiye and Egypt. Additionally, on April 23, we will invite Egyptian children to Ankara for the annual World Children’s Festival.
We have already begun our celebrations with multiple performances by Fire of Anatolia at the Cairo Opera House, and they will soon perform in Sharm El-Sheikh. We are also planning a spectacular Fire of Anatolia show near the Pyramids this summer, which I believe will be an unforgettable experience with strong local support.
Beyond these, we will host musical concerts, exhibitions, and other cultural initiatives to continue commemorating this important milestone in our shared history.
