Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Salih Mutlu Şen.
During an interview on the Weekend Cairo programme with Zeina Soufan on Asharq Business, Ambassador Mutlu Şen said Turkish companies are closely monitoring opportunities to manage and develop Egypt’s regional airports.
He emphasized an “urgent and pressing need” for a new airport in New Alamein City to accommodate the surge of tourists to the North Coast.
Mutlu Şen also noted that Turkish investors are “open and ready” to implement projects in other key tourism hubs, including Sharm El-Sheikh and Luxor.
Egypt is currently involving the private sector in managing and operating 11 airports, beginning with Hurghada International, to modernize infrastructure, boost tourism, and improve efficiency, according to the government programme unveiled in 2024.
This Turkish interest follows visits by companies such as TAV Airports, which began preliminary discussions with Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation in January 2025 to explore partnerships in airport management, aiming to modernize facilities and enhance passenger services in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Beyond infrastructure, the hospitality sector remains a top priority.
Mutlu Şen said Turkish developers are particularly keen on building and operating hotels in New Alamein and the Ras El-Hekma development area.
Regarding the business climate, the ambassador expressed confidence in a special committee established by the Egyptian government to address challenges facing Turkish investors.
"We want to facilitate the work of Turkish investors in Egypt," he said, adding that the ongoing coordination with the Egyptian government is vital for supporting these large-scale investments.
During a high-level strategic meeting on Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan set a target to increase bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2028.
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