Egypt's Sisi calls for establishment of US industrial zone in Suez Canal
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday urged greater US investment in key economic sectors, proposing an American industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and pledging "all necessary facilities" for investors.
Speaking during a meeting in Cairo with a high-level delegation of American business leaders, Sisi described investment in Egypt as "a real opportunity," citing what he called the country’s political and societal stability.
That stability, he said, stems from "the awareness of citizens and their resilience in enduring the harsh economic reforms implemented for the public good, despite the difficult political conditions facing the region".
The delegation was led by Suzanne Clark, President of the US Chamber of Commerce, and John Christmann, Chairman of the US-Egypt Business Council and CEO of Apache Corporation. The visit came as part of the Egyptian-American Economic Forum and was attended by several top Egyptian officials, including Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
During a bilateral meeting ahead of the main session, Sisi expressed Egypt’s ambition to become "a regional industrial hub for American industries and a gateway to Arab and African markets".
He also conveyed the Egyptian government’s willingness to cooperate across various fields of mutual economic interest, "particularly in light of President Trump’s supportive orientation toward enhancing bilateral cooperation," in his words.