Egypt and India have expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in various sectors, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his first official visit to Cairo.
During the visit, Modi held discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and ministers from the “India unit” established after President Sisi’s visit to India in January, where the two countries declared a strategic partnership.
Trade, investment, renewable energy, information technology, and pharmaceuticals were among the topics covered in the talks.
The leaders also emphasized the importance of collaboration within the G-20, focusing on issues such as food and energy security, climate change, and advocating for the Global South. Additionally, discussions on defense and security cooperation took place.
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Sources had previously revealed that India was considering allowing Egypt to conduct transactions in rupees and engage in barter trade to alleviate its foreign currency shortage. However, there was no official mention of this proposal during the visit.
India aims to enhance its relationship with Egypt, partly to secure trade routes through the Suez Canal. In the last fiscal year, India exported $4.11 billion worth of goods to Egypt and imported $1.95 billion. Strengthening ties with Egypt is crucial for India’s economic interests.
During his stay, Prime Minister Modi also visited the Al Hakim mosque, an 11th-century religious site renovated by the Bohra Muslims, a Shi’ite offshoot community prevalent in Gujarat, Modi’s home state.
Notably, Modi, a Hindu nationalist, has rarely made public visits to mosques during his tenure as prime minister.
The visit signifies the deepening bond between Egypt and India and lays the foundation for expanded cooperation across various sectors.
