Ashraf AboArafe
During his official visit to Egypt, Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), met today with Mr. Park Bum Ki, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea, at the SCA headquarters in Ismailia. The meeting was attended by Mr. Kim Yong Hyun, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Egypt, and Admiral Ashraf Atwa, Vice Chairman of the Authority.
The visit comes as part of the envoy’s official program in Cairo, aimed at gaining first-hand insights into the Suez Canal and its development projects.
Admiral Rabie expressed his pride in the strong partnership between the Suez Canal Authority and leading South Korean shipyards and institutions, reflecting the growing bilateral ties between the two nations. He highlighted ongoing efforts to expand cooperation, stressing the mutual ambition to enhance collaboration in various fields.
The Chairman announced several landmark projects born from this cooperation, including:
- Construction of six LNG-powered tugboats.
- A new LNG bunkering station to supply marine units.
- Conversion of two ferries to LNG operation, replacing traditional fossil fuels as part of the SCA’s “Green Canal” strategy.
- A South Korean-funded grant to establish classrooms, training halls, and an LNG bunkering training facility at the Authority’s Vocational Training Center in Port Said.
Rabie underscored the SCA’s commitment to facilitating partnerships and attracting Korean investments in shipbuilding, ship repair, and logistics services, positioning the Canal as a global hub for sustainable maritime industries.
For his part, Special Envoy Park Bum Ki hailed the Suez Canal as a “global maritime artery and one of the pillars of Egypt’s foreign relations.” He praised the Authority’s efforts in maintaining the resilience of global supply chains and supporting Egypt’s development ambitions amid the challenges posed by current geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea region.
He further emphasized Korea’s keen interest in deepening cooperation with the SCA and South Korean companies in shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair, charting a path toward broader horizons of partnership.
