Korea, Egypt launch CEPA talks, upgrade ties to strategic partnership

The leaders of South Korea and Egypt have agreed to initiate negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to boost trade and investment between the two nations, according to a report from Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. President Lee Jae Myung and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also announced plans to elevate their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, signaling a commitment to enhanced cooperation in defense, energy, and technology, in addition to trade and investment.

This development followed a summit at Cheong Wa Dae during El-Sisi's state visit to South Korea. The CEPA, a form of free trade agreement that extends beyond market liberalization to encompass investment and other facets of economic collaboration, is set to commence after a similar agreement was reached at the leaders' previous summit in Egypt in November 2025.

The resumption of talks, now taking place approximately 11 months later, marks El-Sisi's first visit to South Korea in a decade. Lee expressed optimism about the CEPA negotiations, stating that they would provide a robust institutional framework to support the economic development goals of both countries.