Posted on May 13, 2026
CAIRO – 12 May 2026: President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with CMA CGM Chairman Rodolphe Saadé on the sidelines of the Africa-France Summit in Nairobi to discuss expanding the French shipping giant’s footprint in Egypt.
In a Tuesday statement, presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy said Sisi welcomed the ongoing cooperation with the company, a global leader in container shipping.
The president praised the group’s role in developing Egyptian maritime and dry ports, specifically highlighting its work in operating the Red Sea Container Terminal at Sokhna Port, Egypt’s first semi-automated terminal.
Sisi emphasized Egypt’s desire to increase the company’s investments in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) to capitalize on new state-provided incentives and the significant overhaul of the nation’s transport infrastructure.
For his part, Saadé expressed the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Egypt, citing the country’s strategic location and its advanced logistics capabilities.
The meeting also addressed the impact of current regional tensions on global shipping routes, referring to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
Sisi presented Egypt’s vision for international shipping stakeholders to coordinate efforts in order to mitigate bottlenecks and ensure the stability of global supply chains, particularly regarding energy and food security.
The two parties further explored ways to intensify cooperation to bolster economic integration and maritime connectivity between Egypt and other African nations.
