President Tharman to make first state visit to Middle East and North Africa with 4-day trip to Egypt

President Tharman Shanmugarat-nam will be heading to Egypt from Sept 19 to 22 for his first state visit to the Middle East and North Africa.

- Samuel Devaraj Correspondent

His visit, at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will reaffirm Singapore's longstanding relations with the North African country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Sept 18. The two countries will mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2026.

MFA said Mr Tharman will be accorded a state welcome ceremony at the Al Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo and will call on Mr Sisi, who was the first Egyptian president to make a state visit to Singapore when he came in 2015. Mr Sisi will also host a state banquet in Mr Tharman's honour.