Could South Korea Make Egypt A Superpower?
Thousands of years ago, the empire of Egypt once dominated half the world, advancing culture and technology immeasurably during its pomp, before finally succumbing to the onslaught of the Roman Empire. Now it's being suggested that Egypt could rise up once more as a global force, and it will be the South Koreans who will get them there. This was the opinion of Dr. Lee Hee-beom, head of the Korean Egyptian Development Association, which he expressed as he met with the chairman of the Arab Organization for Industrialization in Cairo on Thursday.
In most people’s minds, Egypt’s last period of global supremacy was the time of pyramids and hieroglyphs, when golden-masked Pharaohs sat on the country’s throne and issued decrees with the authority of a living god. It was Egypt as seen through the eyes of those who play Legends of Cleopatra slot and play the Egyptian-themed slot games like it, a rich and aristocratic society consumed by beauty and wealth. Egypt's last Pharoah, Cleopatra, was known throughout the world for her beauty, and she's represented as an idyllic figure in her own slot game on the website. In reality, science was every bit as important to the Egyptians of old as art and appearance were, and if Dr. Lee is to be believed, it's science which could put them there again. If they're able to do it, the riches on offer will be beyond every jackpot any slot game could offer.
Dr. Lee and his counterpart from the AOI, Abdel Moneim al-Tarras, were meeting to discuss a strategic alliance which would see Egypt become the focal point of the scientific industries of both the Arab and African regions. Such proposals and collaborations are precisely what the Korean Egyptian Development Association was created to consider, and this new suggestion is a bold one. South Korea, home of Samsung, is a major manufacturer of electronic goods. According to Dr. Lee, if a deal can be agreed, Egypt will become an export center for South Korean products, acting as a transport conduit between the home nation of the goods and the rest of the Arab and African countries.
This was just one of a number of compliments that Dr. Lee bestowed upon his hosts. He expressed his appreciation that the Arab Organization for Industrialization were co-operating so closely with the Korean Egyptian Development Association, and went on to say that the view of his organization is that Egypt is the economic and logistical key to Africa. As such, he believes it should be viewed as a desirable trading partner not just for Korea, but for all Arab nations wishing to do business in Africa.
Egypt has also recently assumed the Presidency of the African Union for the remainder of 2019, with Egyptian President el-Sisi holding the position, and Dr. Lee also extended his congratulations to Egypt for the achievement. Lee is a keen admirer of Egypt's president, and went on record at the meeting as saying he believes the current reforms being driven by el-Sisi would result in Egypt obtaining a place within the IMF's ‘group of seven,' which are the top ranked economies in the developed world. President el-Sisi has spoken of his vision for Egypt 2030 at length and with great pride, but has stopped short of suggesting that it will result in Egypt becoming a global superpower. Whether Dr. Lee was attempting to flatter his hosts or expressing a sincere belief, the suggestion raised eyebrows.
Abdel Moneim al-Tarras, speaking on behalf of the AOI, spoke of the importance of Egypt taking full advantage of the visit by the Korean delegation. He, along with the organization that he represents looks to create opportunities for investment in industrial areas, with electronics, technology, and science being of crucial importance to them. With Korea being the best partner any nation could wish for in respect of electronics, the partnership would seem to be an ideal one, which would explain why the tone on both sides was so warm and congratulatory.
Tarras went on to explain to the press what the extent of co-operation between KEDA and AOI entailed, confirming that it involved the exchange of both ideas and expertise, training on areas of specialty, information exchange, and the construction of infrastructure within each other's countries. In real terms, it means that so long as plans meet with Presidential approval, any science known to Korea will also be known to Egypt and vice versa. While there's no suggestion that official state secrets will be revealed, any information that could benefit one nation without harming the other is expected to be shared.
The first solid plan confirmed at the end of the meeting was to create a technical committee containing members from both Egypt and Korea, who will set about the task of co-operating in the fields of energy, transport, electronics, and renewable energy. Sustainable development - including renewable energy - is mentioned prominently and repeatedly in the Egypt 2030 blueprint, and so the new partnership is consistent with Egypt's future ambitions. In broader terms, ‘Knowledge, Innovation and Scientific Research' occupy a whole ‘pillar' in the 2030 plan, and so the success of this meeting will provide the Egyptian President with evidence that his grand vision is already on the road to delivery.
The advantages on both sides appear to be clear - Egypt gets to share in Korean technical expertise, and Korea obtains a valuable trading route which could open up more African opportunities for them. In the process, both of them should benefit from greater technological development. Whether a technological boost alone would be enough to take Egypt to the status of a global superpower is unclear, but if the Egypt 2030 plan proceeds as the President foresees it, it will help them on their way.
Egypt may not be planning to build any new Pyramids, and el-Sis may not see himself as a Pharaoh, but he could be on his way to becoming the most prominent and powerful Egyptian leader in living memory.
