 |
| Indian PM Narendra Modi and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Image Credit: Google |
Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi made a rare visit to Cairo, where he met with Egypt's
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Both leaders
pledged to deepen their strategic partnership, signing a joint declaration to
elevate their relations, which was initially announced in January during
el-Sisi's visit to New Delhi.
Boosting Investment and Bilateral Talks:
Modi and
el-Sisi agreed to enhance India's investment in Egypt, focusing on areas such
as:
- Trade and investment,
- Renewable Energy,
- Information Technology, and
- Pharmaceuticals.
The bilateral
talks also included:
- Cooperation in the G-20,
- Emphasizing issues like food and energy insecurity,
- Climate Change,
- The importance of the Global South having a united voice, and
- Defence and security ties.
Strengthening Relations and Developing Indian Investments:
During Modi's
visit, President el-Sisi welcomed him at the presidential palace and presented
him with Egypt's highest honor, the Order of the Nile.
The two leaders
expressed their mutual commitment to strengthening relations, including:
- Increasing high-level visits,
- Establishing direct flights between the capitals, and
- Developing Indian investments in Egypt.
This could
potentially involve a dedicated land area for Indian industries in the Suez
Canal Economic Zone.
Growing Trade Cooperation and Historic Visit:
India is
already Egypt's seventh-largest trading partner, with trade reaching $7 billion
in the previous year.
Modi's visit
marks the first state visit by an Indian prime minister to Egypt in over two
decades.
The visit aims
to bolster trade cooperation and expand the range of Egyptian products imported
by India.
The countries
also agreed on various trade-related fields, including crude oil, liquefied
natural gas, cotton, and inorganic chemicals.
Cultural and
Historical Engagements/Agreements:
During his
visit, Modi visited Cairo's Al-Hakim Mosque, which was recently renovated with
assistance from the India-based Dawoodi Bohra community.
He also paid
tribute to Indian soldiers buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery, who lost
their lives during World War I.
Additionally,
agreements were signed between the two governments in areas such as:
- Agriculture,
- Archaeology,
- Antiquities, and
- Competition law.
(Courtesy:
Al-Jazeera)
0 Comments