Indian Prime Minister pays official visit to Egypt after 26 years.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Egypt on June 24-25 to strengthen and develop the strategic relationship between the two countries in various fields. This was the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt since 1997.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting in New Delhi, India, on January 25, 2023. (Source: Reuters)

During his two-day visit from June 24-26, the Indian Prime Minister met with President Abdel Fatteh El-Sisi to discuss political and economic relations between the two countries. This was Modi's first trip and the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt since 1997.

Egypt possesses a unique geostrategic location on either the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, or the Suez Canal, making this North African nation an integral part of India's Indo-Pacific strategy as well as India's strategy toward Africa.

Indian Ambassador to Cairo Ajit Gupte affirmed on June 24 that Prime Minister Modi's visit to Cairo would create new momentum for the multifaceted relationship between the two countries. According to Gupte, the visit takes place against the backdrop of unprecedentedly strong development in relations between Cairo and New Delhi at all levels since El-Sisi assumed the Egyptian presidency in 2014.

Egypt-India relations were upgraded to a "strategic partnership" during President El-Sisi's official visit to New Delhi in January 2023, where he was the chief guest at India's 74th Republic Day celebrations. On this occasion, President El-Sisi and Prime Minister Modi announced a plan to increase bilateral trade to $12 billion over the next five years.

Egypt is one of India's most important trading partners in Africa. According to official Egyptian figures, trade between Egypt and India in 2022 increased by 13.7% compared to the previous year, reaching $6 billion.

Over 50 Indian companies currently operate in Egypt with a total investment of $3.15 billion, providing direct employment for approximately 38,000 Egyptian workers. Around 3,600 Indian citizens are currently living, studying, and working in Egypt.

In addition, India and Egypt are also strengthening cooperation in the defense sector. In January 2023, the two countries' armies held a joint exercise in Jaisalmer, India, to enhance cooperation and share skills in desert warfare, counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, and other special operations.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-an-do-tham-chinh-thuc-ai-cap-sau-26-nam-232243.html