Egypt and India bolster ties as Modi makes first trip to Cairo
Egypts president and Indias PM discuss strengthening relations in areas including trade, food security and defence. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met Egypts President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on a rare visit during which both sides pledged to deepen their strategic partnership. Modi and el-Sisi signed a joint declaration to elevate relations to a strategic partnership, which they had first announced in January when el-Sisi visited New Delhi, a spokesman for the Egyptian president said on Sunday. The two leaders agreed to boost investment by India the worlds most-populous nation in Egypt, which has the Arab worlds largest population and is now in the grips of an economic downturn. Both sides said the bilateral talks covered areas including trade and investment, renewable energy, information technology and pharmaceuticals. The two also discussed further cooperation in G-20, highlighting the issues of food and energy insecurity, climate change and the need for Global South to have a concerted voice, a statement from Modis office said, adding that the talks additionally addressed defence and security ties. El-Sisi welcomed Modi at the presidential palace in Cairo and bestowed upon him the countrys highest honour, the Order of the Nile, as the two leaders affirmed their mutual commitment to strengthen relations. This would include increasing high-level visits, facilitating direct flights between the capitals, and developing Indian investments in Egypt, according to the presidency in Cairo. Last January, the two leaders agreed to increase Indian investments in Egypt, which currently stand at more than $3.15bn, including through a potential dedicated land area for Indian industries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Those projects include a $12bn green hydrogen plant to be built by Indian firm ACME. India is already Egypts seventh-largest trading partner, according to data from Cairos central bank, with trade reaching $7bn last year. Modi, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday, is the first Indian prime minister to pay a state visit to Egypt in more than two decades. His two-day stop came six months after el-Sisi was in New Delhi as an official guest during Indias Independence Day. Modi also invited the Egyptian leader to attend a summit of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing countries, which India will host in September. Earlier this year, both countries agreed to boost trade cooperation. India is one of the top five importers of Egyptian products, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas, salt, cotton, inorganic chemicals and oilseeds. Notable Indian exports to Egypt include cotton yarn, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, vehicle parts, ships, boats and electrical machinery. My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial , the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection. pic.twitter.com/tpoTK3inxH Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Following his talks with el-Sisi, Modi visited a historic mosque, Cairos Al-Hakim, which was recently renovated with the help of the India-based Dawoodi Bohra community. He also paid tribute to Indian soldiers who died in World War I and are buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo. The two governments signed agreements in the fields of agriculture, archaeology, antiquities and competition law, said Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for Indias Ministry of External Affairs. My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigor to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations, Modi wrote on Twitter before departing for New Delhi.