In observance of Egypt’s forthcoming National Day, I wish to highlight the significant progress in relations between Egypt and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in recent years. My efforts to foster stronger bilateral ties are yielding tangible results across various sectors, reinforcing my commitment and driving further advancements. The productive collaboration and positive outcomes demonstrate a new era of mutually beneficial cooperation with substantial potential for future growth. Hong Kong’s successful development of centralized financial and business hubs, establishing itself as a leading Asian wealth management and investment fund center, provides a valuable model for Egypt’s parallel development strategies.

Several Hong Kong business delegations have recently conducted exploratory missions to Egypt to identify opportunities for enhanced bilateral cooperation. For instance, the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre’s visit to Cairo in October 2024 yielded productive meetings with key government officials, banks, and economic organizations, including the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones and the Suez Canal Economic Zone. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Egyptian Bar Association during this visit.

In May 2025, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) completed a successful business development mission to Egypt, where InvestHK has recently established an office. The mission highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a premier gateway for businesses expanding into the Chinese mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Egyptian officials showed significant interest in Hong Kong’s expertise in developing centralized financial and business districts, a model that has solidified Hong Kong’s status as a leading Asian center for wealth management and investment funds. Consequently, Egypt intends to adopt this model using a recently implemented law on central financial and business zones.

READ MORE: Egypt's finance minister sees enhanced HK-Middle East ties

In 2024, Hong Kong’s bilateral trade with Egypt amounted to $2.1 billion, exhibiting a 5.4 percent growth compared to the preceding year.

It’s noteworthy that the Egyptian government is currently focusing on investments that generate significant employment and exports, while also emphasizing strong local participation in key sectors. These sectors include renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, textiles, electronics and home appliances, pharmaceuticals, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and education.

Egypt’s strategic location and preferential access to African, Arab, and European markets present a compelling investment opportunity for multinational corporations pursuing international expansion.

Egypt’s substantial contributions to global art history are clearly evident, especially with the recent openings of major new museums such as the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The participation of both museums in the recent Hong Kong Museum Summit highlights Egypt’s dedication to fostering strong bilateral cultural relationships.

READ MORE: Museum visitors eager to experience Egyptology exhibition

Finally, I am delighted to share that we are preparing for an upcoming exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts in Hong Kong later this year. This exhibition will highlight the strong friendship between Egypt and the Hong Kong SAR and will significantly contribute to cultural and tourism exchanges between our regions. It is expected to be the largest and most comprehensive display of ancient Egyptian artifacts in Hong Kong in recent decades, showcasing nearly 250 treasures.

The author is  consul-general of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.