India- Egypt Sign Pacts to Strengthen Ties, PM Modi Conferred With the ‘Order of the Nile’ PM Modi and Egypt's President discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two nations, including in trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties.
3 min read
Cairo: After the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday concluded his first-ever visit to Egypt. It was the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in the last 26 years.
Modi’s flight landed at Cairo’s international airport Saturday afternoon, after four-day trip to the United States where he held talks with President Joe Biden, delivered a speech to the US Congress, and met with top American and Indian executives. It’s the first state visit to Egypt by an Indian prime minister since 1997.
Soon after his arrival in Egypt, Modi and Madbouly held talks on strengthening Egyptian-Indo ties, Egypt’s state-run MENA news agency reported.
The talks were attended by senior government officials from both countries.
On second day of his historic visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during which they signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a “Strategic Partnership”.
Both the leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two nations, including in trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties.
The two sides signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral partnership to a “strategic partnership.” In addition, three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities and competition law were also signed between India and Egypt.
Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, “PM @narendramodi held a productive meeting with President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo on 25 June 2023 The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in trade & investment, defence & security, renewable energy, cultural and people to people ties. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a “Strategic Partnership” was signed by the leaders. Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology & Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed.”
كانت المحادثات مع الرئيس عبد الفتاح السيسي متميزه. وقد استعرضنا كافة اوجه العلاقات بين الهند ومصر واتفقنا على تعزيز العلاقات الاقتصادية والثقافية. pic.twitter.com/6xlgDQ1uEI
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023
PM Modi also visited Egypt’s historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque, which was restored with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
He also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery in Cairo and paid homage to over 4,300 valiant Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I. He also took a tour of the pyramids at Giza.
Modi’s visit comes six months after el-Sissi attended India’s Republic Day parade as an official guest.
In January, el-Sissi and Modi agreed on measures to increase the two-way trade in five years to $12 billion, up from $7.3 billion in 2021-22.
During el-Sissi’s visit, the countries also signed agreements on expanding cooperation in cyber security, information technology, culture, and broadcasting.
India is one of the top five importers of Egyptian products, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas, salt, cotton, inorganic chemicals and oilseeds.
Major Indian exports to Egypt include cotton yarn, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, vehicle parts, ships, boats and electrical machinery.
More than 50 Indian companies have invested around $3.15 billion in various parts of the Egyptian economy, including chemicals, energy, textiles, garments, agri-business and retailing, according to India’s External Affairs Ministry.
In a special ceremony at the Presidency in Cairo on 25 June 2023, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, conferred Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the ‘Order of the Nile’, the highest civilian award of Egypt.
Prime Minister thanked President Sisi for the honor on behalf of the people of India. PM Modi is the first Indian to receive the award.
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
