President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is travelling on Sunday to New York for the first time since his election last June to participate in the 69th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

El-Sisi is expected to meet many officials during his five-day visit, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, to discuss regional developments, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn for discussions on the latter's Nile dam projects.

During his visit El-Sisi is expected to highlight Egypt's efforts to attract investment to support the economy and fund major projects such as the Suez Canal expansion and the development of the electricity sector, according to Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

He is also expected to speak about the new anti-IS coalition, Egyptian-American relations and about ties between Russia and Egypt.  

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced late Saturday that US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Egyptian Defense Minister Sedki Sobhy to confirm the United States' plans to deliver ten Apache helicopters to Egypt to support Cairo's counter-terrorism efforts, according to Reuters.

Relations between the US and Egypt have wavered since the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi last summer, as US officials have expressed concern over a prolonged crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood and their Islamist sympathisers.

In October of last year, Washington withheld from the Egyptian government deliveries of tanks, fighter aircraft, helicopters and missiles as well as $260 million in cash aid, pending progress in democracy and human rights.

Egypt has been among the largest beneficiaries of US military and economic aid for decades pursuant to a 1979 peace treaty with Washington's close ally Israel.