Egypt's Exports to South Korea Increase by 62%

Minister of Trade and Industry Nivine Gamea. (Reuters)
Minister of Trade and Industry Nivine Gamea. (Reuters)
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Egypt's Exports to South Korea Increase by 62%

Minister of Trade and Industry Nivine Gamea. (Reuters)
Minister of Trade and Industry Nivine Gamea. (Reuters)

The value of trade exchange between Egypt and South Korean increased by 46.9% in the first 10 months of 2021, amounting to $890 million, compared to $286.6 million during the same period in 2020, Egypt’s trade minister announced Sunday.

During the same period in 2021, Egypt’s exports to the South Korean market rose by 62.3 percent to reach $531.5 million, up from $327.5 million during the same period in 2020, Minister of Trade and Industry Nivine Gamea said during a virtual meeting with her South Korean counterpart Yeo Han-Koo.

The products exchanged mainly include oil products, cement, granite, aluminum, ready-made garments, machines and equipment, as well as cars and medical devices, Gamea noted.

Cairo is keen to develop joint economic cooperation ties with South Korea to unprecedented levels, the minister stressed.

South Korea is considered one of Egypt’s key trade partners in the Eastern and Southeastern Asia region and a major source for transferring advanced industrial expertise and technologies to the Egyptian industry, she continued.

Visits between both countries’ senior officials have recently intensified, she noted.

Gamea said President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to the Korean capital, Seoul, in 2016 had paved the way for the launch of a new phase of distinguished bilateral ties in various fields and at various levels.

Yeo, for his part, said South Korea hails the great success achieved by the Egyptian economic reform program and its positive contribution to the economy.

He pointed to the 3.6% growth rate in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic and its negative repercussions on various global economies.

The Korean government is keen to boost joint cooperation with its Egyptian counterpart in the fields of trade, investment, industry, energy, health, and specifically in means of addressing the pandemic, the minister stated.

He pointed to the importance of joint bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade facilitation and supply chain development to achieve economic recovery for both countries in light of the pandemic.



Three Saudi-Yemeni Companies Established in Energy, Telecom to Support Yemen's Reconstruction

The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council holds meeting in Makkah, announces strategic initiatives (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council holds meeting in Makkah, announces strategic initiatives (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Three Saudi-Yemeni Companies Established in Energy, Telecom to Support Yemen's Reconstruction

The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council holds meeting in Makkah, announces strategic initiatives (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council holds meeting in Makkah, announces strategic initiatives (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council, part of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, announced six initiatives to boost trade and support Yemen’s economic development at a meeting in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Over 300 Saudi and Yemeni investors attended, agreeing to establish three companies to help rebuild Yemen and improve its infrastructure.
The initiatives include upgrading border crossings to improve logistics and increase trade, currently valued at 6.3 billion riyals ($1.6 billion). Yemen’s exports to Saudi Arabia, worth only 655 million riyals ($174.6 million), highlight untapped potential in mining, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.
Key recommendations to enhance trade and support Yemen’s economic recovery include setting up quarantine facilities for Yemeni livestock and agricultural products to increase exports, as well as building smart food cities near border areas to improve food security and sustainable cooperation.
The Council urged action to address banking challenges faced by traders, suggesting reforms in Yemen’s financial sector and stronger ties with Saudi banks. It also proposed creating a club for Yemeni investors in Saudi Arabia to encourage joint projects and partnerships.
Three new Saudi-Yemeni companies will be established. One will invest $100 million in solar energy to provide sustainable electricity in Yemen. Another will focus on boosting telecommunications via Starlink satellite services. The third will organize events to promote Saudi products and support Yemen’s reconstruction.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Council President Dr. Abdullah bin Mahfouz emphasized the private sector’s critical role in stabilizing Yemen’s economy and society through investments that support development, create jobs, improve infrastructure, and promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
He stressed the importance of empowering Yemeni entrepreneurs and securing funding for reconstruction projects, encouraging public-private partnerships to execute large-scale initiatives under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.
The Makkah meeting ended with agreements between Saudi and Yemeni companies to develop key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Streamlined customs, improved logistics, and upgraded Yemeni ports and airports were also highlighted as priorities to facilitate trade.
Yemeni delegation leader Abdulmajid al-Saadi, praised Saudi Arabia’s new investment law, noting Yemeni investments in the Kingdom have reached 18 billion riyals ($4.8 billion), ranking third among foreign investors.