In a move to solidify burgeoning diplomatic and economic ties, the Embassy of Malaysia in Cairo hosted a high-level talk session featuring Ambassador Amr Hamza, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs. The event underscored the evolving strategic partnership between Cairo and Kuala Lumpur, positioning the two nations as vital gateways to their respective regions.
During the session, Ambassador Hamza provided an extensive briefing on the current regional landscape, highlighting Egypt’s pivotal diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation amidst ongoing tensions. He reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast commitment to regional stability through consistent dialogue and engagement with all international stakeholders.
The session was attended by Dato’ Mohd Tarid Sufian, Ambassador of Malaysia to Egypt alongside members of the ASEAN diplomatic corps, officials from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and prominent leaders from the business and media sectors. Among the notable attendees was former Egyptian Ambassador to Malaysia, Ragai Naser.
Sameh Ali Elsawady from ESAF CEO, Eng. Bassem Ashmawy from Ezz ElArab, Dr. Mamdouh Elaraby CEO from ELAraby Group, Dr Mohamed Hassan Deputy Egyptian – Malaysian Chamber of commerce, were among the attendees.
The economic segment of the forum highlighted a historic surge in bilateral cooperation. Mohd Khairy Maidin, Trade Commissioner of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in Cairo, announced that bilateral trade reached a record high of $718 million in 2025.
„While 2024 was a year of recovery, 2025 marks a strategic shift toward high-value diversification,” Maidin stated. „We are witnessing a move toward industrial and technology-driven exports, exemplified by the full-scale export of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits to support the Proton Saga assembly plant expansion here in Egypt.”
The „Potato Boom”: Egyptian potato exports to Malaysia grew by a staggering 146%.
Egyptian Growth: Total Egyptian exports to Malaysia rose by over 22%, led by citrus fruits and oranges.
Energy and Tech: Malaysia is introducing advanced solutions in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and green energy to the Egyptian market.
Aviation: Proposals were discussed to revive direct flights between Cairo and Kuala Lumpur, with potential involvement from AirAsia.
With Malaysia serving as the Chair of ASEAN in 2025 and Egypt’s recent accession to BRICS+, both nations are leveraging their geographic positions to create a „strategic bridge” between Southeast Asia and Africa.
A central pillar of this collaboration is the Global Halal Ecosystem. Describing Malaysia as the „architect” of this industry, MATRADE extended a formal invitation to Egyptian manufacturers and exporters to participate in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026, scheduled for September 23–26 in Kuala Lumpur.
The session successfully established a roadmap for future cooperation in digital transformation, food security, and supply chain resilience, reaffirming that the Malaysia–Egypt relationship has evolved from simple trade into a deep-rooted strategic alliance.
The event concluded with a luncheon that facilitated direct talks between the ASEAN Heads of Missions and the Egyptian business community.
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