The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Africa–France Summit in Nairobi.
The two-day summit, titled “Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” is being held on 11–12 May under the overarching theme “Africa Forward.”
Presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy said El-Sisi praised the cooperation between Egypt and CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest container shipping and maritime transport companies, citing its role in implementing several projects in Egypt’s maritime and dry ports sectors.
The president highlighted the company’s role in establishing and operating the Red Sea Container Terminal at Ain Sokhna Port, Egypt’s first semi-automated container terminal, and stressed Cairo’s interest in expanding the company’s operations and investments, particularly in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
El-Sisi said Egypt was seeking to attract further foreign investment by offering new incentives and capitalizing on extensive upgrades to maritime transport infrastructure and logistics services.
Saadé expressed appreciation for the meeting and reaffirmed CMA CGM’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Egypt, citing the country’s strategic location and the significant development of its maritime transport and logistics capabilities, according to the presidency.
The talks also addressed the impact of ongoing regional tensions on international shipping routes. El-Sisi said stakeholders in the global maritime shipping system should work collectively to address bottlenecks and limit disruptions to global trade flows and supply chains, particularly in the energy and food sectors.
The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen economic integration and maritime connectivity between Egypt and African countries.
Egypt’s first semi-automated container terminal at Ain Sokhna Port, known as the Red Sea Container Terminal (RSCT), is one of the country’s flagship logistics and maritime infrastructure projects and a key component of efforts to transform the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) into a global trade and shipping hub.
The terminal is being developed and operated by a consortium led by French shipping and logistics group CMA CGM under a long-term concession agreement with Egyptian authorities. The project is located at Ain Sokhna Port on the Red Sea, near the southern entrance of the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
The facility is designed to operate with semi-automated systems to increase cargo-handling efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and improve operational safety. The terminal incorporates advanced digital logistics systems, automated yard operations, and modern container-handling equipment in line with international port standards.
The project forms part of Egypt’s broader strategy to modernize its port network and position itself as a regional logistics centre linking Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Egyptian authorities have invested heavily in expanding and upgrading ports, road networks, rail connectivity, and logistics corridors tied to the SCZone.
The terminal is expected to strengthen Egypt’s role in global supply chains by increasing container-handling capacity on the Red Sea and supporting transshipment activity through the Suez Canal corridor. It also aligns with Cairo’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment into transport, logistics, and industrial sectors.
CMA CGM has expanded its footprint in Egypt in recent years through investments in container terminals, dry ports, shipping services, and logistics operations, amid growing international competition over strategic maritime trade routes and regional supply-chain infrastructure.
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