This marks President Emmanuel Macron's fourth visit to Egypt since taking office. The visit began with a night tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum and will conclude on Tuesday with a visit to Gaza aid logistics centres in Arish.
The French president was received and escorted by Egyptian Air Force Rafale jets, which he described as a powerful symbol of Egyptian-French strategic cooperation.
Upon his arrival, Macron headed to the Grand Egyptian Museum for an evening visit.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will officially receive Macron on Monday at 9 AM (Cairo local time) for talks. The two leaders will also witness the signing of economic agreements. A joint press conference will follow.
Macron is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the French ministers of foreign affairs, defense, economy, health, transport, and scientific research. Macron's delegation also includes top French CEOs and business executives.
According to the Élysée Palace, the visit also aims to strengthen bilateral ties and build a strategic partnership between Egypt and France, similar to Egypt's existing collaboration with the European Union.
Trilateral Summit on Gaza
President El-Sisi and President Macron will be joined by King Abdullah II of Jordan in a trilateral summit at 12:00 PM to address the developments of the ongoing war in Gaza.
"In response to the emergency in Gaza and as part of my visit to Egypt at President El-Sisi's invitation, we will hold a trilateral summit with the Egyptian President and the King of Jordan," Macron posted on social media in both French and Arabic on Saturday.
The Élysée Palace stated Sunday that the leaders will discuss regional conflicts, including those in Syria, Libya, Sudan, and Palestine. Given its historic role as a bridge to the Arab world, France hopes to help facilitate a breakthrough in the Middle East conflict.
"We will talk about the ceasefire and the possibility of ending the war," the Élysée spokesperson said.
Strengthening economic cooperation
El-Sisi and Macron will attend the Egyptian-French business forum following the summit meeting.
According to Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), bilateral trade between Egypt and France reached $2.9 billion in 2024, up from $2.5 billion in 2023.
Egyptian exports to France rose to $1 billion in 2024, compared to $855.4 million in 2023. The top Egyptian exports included electrical machinery and equipment ($248 million), fertilizers ($194 million), mineral fuels and oils ($158 million), vegetables and fruits ($75 million), and ready-made garments ($73 million).
Meanwhile, Egyptian imports from France increased to $1.8 billion in 2024, up from $1.7 billion the previous year. Leading French exports to Egypt included pharmaceutical products ($302 million), grains ($183 million), vehicles, tractors, and motorcycles ($115 million), iron and related products ($100 million), and miscellaneous chemical products ($99 million).
French investments in Egypt totalled $483.8 million during the fiscal year 2023/2024, down from $591.3 million in 2022/2023. On the other hand, Egyptian investments in France reached $238.3 million in 2023/2024, compared to $284.2 million in the previous fiscal year.
The Cairo Metro is among Egypt and France's most significant joint transportation projects. Presidents El-Sisi and Macron are scheduled to visit the project on Monday evening.
Visit to Cairo University
On Monday evening, President Macron will visit Cairo University, becoming the second French president to do so, after Jacques Chirac delivered a speech there in April 1996 during the inauguration of the French-funded Qasr Al-Ainy French Hospital.
Macron will attend the launch of the Egypt-France Higher Education and Scientific Research Conference on Monday. He will be accompanied by Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ayman Ashour, and French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste. The event will bring together university presidents, senior education officials, and heads of research centres and institutes from both countries. It will also host representatives from several French companies operating in Egypt.
Speaking to the media, Ashour highlighted that the conference, which he described as a significant milestone in educational cooperation between Egypt and France, advances modern disciplines such as technological sciences and interdisciplinary programmes.
He expected the first phase of this expanded collaboration to be completed by October 2025.
Later that evening, Macron will attend a dinner hosted at the Institut Français in Al-Mounira Palace with prominent Egyptian figures from various fields.
A visit to North Sinai
President Macron is scheduled to meet with local officials in Arish on Tuesday to discuss the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to the Élysée Palace.
According to Khaled Meghawer, the governor of North Sinai Governorate, Macron is the first French and European president to visit the region.
In statements to the Cairo-based ON TV channel, Meghawer stated that Macron's visit to Arish carries significant political weight, reiterating France's firm stance against the displacement of Palestinians.
"Macron has consistently stressed that his visit to Arish aims to reaffirm France's firm opposition to displacing Palestinians," Meghawer said.
During his visit, Macron will tour the Red Crescent's storage facilities in Arish, which currently house international humanitarian aid destined for Gaza, pending entry into the war-devastated strip.
Since October 2023, Egypt has designated Arish International Airport as a hub for receiving international humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Egyptian government has called on members of the international community willing to support Palestinians to direct their humanitarian assistance through the airport.
The French president will also visit Arish General Hospital to check on injured Palestinians, with many having been transferred to Egyptian hospitals through the Rafah border crossing since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza.
In 2024, the French helicopter carrier Dixmude took part in the relief efforts, providing medical care to approximately 1,000 Palestinians from Gaza while docked at Arish Port.
Egypt has received hundreds of Palestinians injured through North Sinai's Rafah.
According to officials, more than 1,500 Palestinians have been treated in Egyptian hospitals, with over 2,100 accompanying individuals.
President Macron's visit will conclude with a press conference in Arish.
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