Sisi, Modi push to deepen Egypt-India strategic partnership

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed on Sunday ways to further strengthen the Egyptian-Indian strategic partnership, with a focus on trade, investment and emerging sectors, as well as regional and international developments.

President El-Sisi met Modi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

At the start of the meeting, Modi welcomed President El-Sisi and Egypt’s active participation in the summit.

Sisi, meanwhile, praised India’s successful BRICS presidency this year and its efforts to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination among member states in a manner that serves the interests of the Global South and supports multilateral action, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said.

The talks focused on ways to develop Egyptian-Indian relations and build on the growing momentum since the two countries upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2023.

Sisi stressed the importance of taking concrete steps to strengthen the partnership, including increasing bilateral trade to $12 billion and boosting Indian investments in Egypt, particularly in manufacturing, technology, clean energy and the automotive industry.

He also highlighted Egypt’s competitive advantages, including its strategic location, skilled workforce and extensive network of free trade agreements, as well as incentives offered by the Suez Canal Economic Zone and other industrial areas.

Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to further developing bilateral relations across various fields. He praised Egypt’s pivotal role in the region and its substantial economic and human resources.

The Indian prime minister also stressed that his government encourages Indian companies to expand their investments in Egypt and explore available opportunities. He highlighted the importance of strengthening business ties between the two countries to support joint ventures and the transfer of expertise and technology.

The two sides also discussed opportunities for co-operation in renewable energy, green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals and information technology, opening up new prospects for the private sectors of both countries.

The meeting also covered a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, foremost among them the Palestinian issue.

Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s longstanding position that crises must be resolved through peaceful means and negotiations, with priority given to diplomatic solutions, respect for international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and an end to escalation and the use of force.