Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun a two-day visit to Egypt, highlighting the two nations’ increasing relations.
On Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Egypt, highlighting the two nations’ increasing relations.
Modi’s plane touched down at Cairo’s international airport on Saturday afternoon, after a four-day journey to the United States during which he visited with President Joe Biden, made an address to Congress, and met with senior American and Indian businesspeople.
It is the Indian prime minister’s first state visit to Egypt since 1997.
Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly greeted Modi, and the two inspected an honor guard and listened to national anthems. Modi thanked Madbouly on Twitter for “the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport,” adding, “May India-Egypt ties flourish and benefit the people of our nations.”
According to Egypt’s state-run MENA news agency, Modi and Madbouly then conducted talks on expanding Egyptian-Indo ties. Senior government officials from both nations attended the talks, according to MENA.
According to Arindam Bagchi, a spokeswoman for India’s External Affairs Ministry, Modi also addressed “countering extremism and radicalization” with Egypt’s Islamic jurist, Grand Mufti Shawki Allam.
On Sunday, Modi is set to meet with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. The two countries will also sign a series of memorandums to strengthen their ties.
On Sunday, Modi will also visit the Al-Hakim Mosque in Islamic Cairo, which was recently refurbished with the assistance of the India-based Dawoodi Bohra community. He also plans to pay honor to Indian soldiers who served in World War I at the Heliopolis War Cemetery.
Modi’s visit comes six months after el-Sissi was an official guest at India’s Republic Day celebration.
In January, el-Sissi and Modi agreed on measures to enhance two-way commerce to $12 billion in five years, up from $7.3 billion in 2021-22. During el-Sissi’s visit, the nations inked agreements to strengthen cooperation in cyber security, information technology, culture, and broadcasting.
India is one of Egypt’s top five importers of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, salt, cotton, inorganic chemicals, and oilseeds. Cotton yarn, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, auto components, ships, boats, and electrical gear are among the major Indian exports to Egypt.
According to India’s External Affairs Ministry, more than 50 Indian firms have invested over $3.15 billion in various sectors of the Egyptian economy, including chemicals, energy, textiles, garments, agri-business, and retailing.
