New Delhi: President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, on his second State Visit to India, wass the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day on 26 January 2023, reflecting the importance attached by India to the relationship with Egypt. President Sisi wass accompanied by a high-level delegation. He also met Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
President Sisi and Prime Minister Modi held restricted and delegation-level talks. The two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.
The two countries upgraded their relations to ‘Strategic Partnership’ covering political, security, defence, energy and economic areas. The bilateral relationship stands on the pillars of closer political and security cooperation, deeper economic engagement, stronger scientific and academic collaboration, and wider cultural and people-to-people contacts.
India has invited Egypt as ‘Guest Country’ for the G20 forum. Modi and Sisi reiterated that the interests and priorities of the Global South be given due attention and focus in key global forums including G20.
President Sisi invited Indian business community to explore new and emerging business opportunities in Egypt seeking Indian investments in Egypt in sectors such as infrastructure, petrochemicals, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, skills development and IT.
Political Relations
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, the founding values of the Non-Aligned Movement, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. The two sides agreed to hold regular consultations on cultural and social sensitivities of all states.
Economic Cooperation, Trade and Investment
India & Egypt recorded bilateral trade at a record high of US$ 7.26 billion in 2021-22, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and set a goal of a bilateral trade of US$ 12 billion in the next five years.
Indian investments in Egypt is currently more than US$ 3.15 billion. Egypt has promised to offer incentives and facilities whic includes the possibility of allocating a special area of land for the Indian industries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ), with the Indian side arranging for the master plan.
Both sides agreed on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of capacity building and sharing of experience in the developmental fields in view of the success of the Egyptian experience in developing rural areas under the project ‘Decent Life’ as well as India’s experience in usage of technology in fighting poverty.
Agriculture
Both leaders stressed the deepening cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied services, the importance of strengthening the supply chain of food articles.
Defence Cooperation
The two leaders resolved deepening cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries and intensify military-to-military engagements. Regular interaction between their Armed Forces through exchanges in training, joint exercises, transits and high-level bilateral visits was discussed. India's Air Force had participated in the first ever ‘Joint Tactical Air Exercise’ in Egypt in October 2021 and in the ‘Tactical Leadership Programme’ of the Egyptian Air Force in June 2022.
Both countries agreed to further enhance and deepen defence cooperation in all fields by exchanging technology between defence industries, widening the footprint of military exercises, and exchanging best practices. They emphasized the need for co-production in the defence sector.
Combating Extremism and Countering Terrorism
Prime Minister Modi and President Sisi expressed concern over the spread of terrorism across the world and the use of terrorism as a foreign policy tool. They called for 'zero tolerance' for terrorism and for all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism or provide sanctuaries to terrorist and terror groups- whatever their motivation may be. They emphasized the need for concerted and coordinated action by the international community, with the objective of eradicating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism. They reiterated their condemnation of efforts, including by States, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries. They also called upon all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist networks and their safe havens, infrastructure, their financing channels and preventing cross-border movements of terrorists.
Both leaders reiterated their common resolve in promoting the values of peace, tolerance and inclusiveness and making concerted efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremist ideologies. They emphasized the need for a holistic approach to counter terrorism and violent extremism, which includes inter alia disrupting the use of the internet and social media and preventing the use of religious centres to radicalize youth and recruit terrorist cadres. They agreed on the need to hold the JWG on Counter-Terrorism on regular basis to exchange information and best practices. The two sides agreed on enhancing interaction between their respective National Security Councils.
Space Cooperation and Cyber Security
The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in the field of space by utilizing India's expertise in building and launching satellites and space technology applications with cooperation in space research in areas such as remote sensing, satellite communication, space science, and practical applications of space technology.
Prime Minister Modi and President Sisi underscored the importance of an open, free, stable, accessible, safe, trusted and accountable cyberspace, as enabler for economic growth and innovation. In particular, they reaffirmed a multi-stakeholder approach to internet governance and their wish to deepen deliberations on the applicability of international law to cyberspace and set norms of responsible behaviour of States, in light of grave security challenges posed by a worrying increase in the malicious uses of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). While highlighting their wish to increase bilateral cooperation on ICT-related issues, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU on Cooperation in the area of Cyber Security.
Health Sector
Recognizing the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, particularly to the developing world, President Sisi and Prime Minister Modi agreed to cooperate in ensuring more robust global supply chains, enhanced preparedness and access to healthcare. They appreciated the support and cooperation extended by both sides during the pandemic and welcomed the collaboration between vaccine manufactures in India and Egypt. Both leaders expressed appreciation for the mass COVID vaccination programmes in each other’s country as well as their humanitarian initiatives to provide vaccines, medical supplies, and medicines to countries around the world.
The two sides stressed the importance of greater scientific and academic exchanges with an emphasis on sharing experience and research in the fields of information technology, medicine and pharmaceuticals.
Green and Sustainable Development
The two sides expressed their satisfaction that they attach high priority to the issues of climate change, environment, sustainable development, and encourage the use of new and renewable energy.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated President Sisi for the successful hosting of the 27th Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Sharm el-Sheikh in November 2022.
Both leaders expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen, and welcomed the recent signing of a Framework Agreement and MoUs between Indian companies and the Egyptian authorities for the setting up of large-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Science, Technology and Education
Noting their longstanding science and technology cooperation with satisfaction, the two leaders agreed that India and Egypt could work together in areas of emerging technologies through sharing best practices and undertaking joint research in areas of mutual interest such as nano-technology, bio-technology and renewable energy. They recognized the enormous potential of ICTs to the promotion of economic and social goals. They welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of IT between the two sides with a focus on e-Governance, e-Public service delivery including e-learning, telemedicine, re-skilling and up-skilling of young talent in areas of new and emerging technologies. They also welcomed the presence of Indian IT companies in Egypt and expressed confidence about closer collaboration in the IT sector.
Both leaders agreed that education and skills development through the exchange of students and academics between the two countries generates valuable people-to-people links. They decided to enhance bilateral partnership in the domain of education by exploring the possibility of further collaboration between Universities in Egypt and the Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of India.
Art, Culture and Heritage
Both leaders appreciated the growing cultural exchanges between India and Egypt and welcomed the signing of the MoU in the field of Culture between the two countries, which aims to further promote bilateral exchanges in the field of music and dance, theatre, literature, library, archives and festivals. MoU between Prasar Bharati of India and the National Media Authority of Egypt, for the exchange and co-production of radio and television programs, exchange of personnel, training and research was signed.
Both leaders recognized that historical monuments and archaeological sites in India and Egypt represent invaluable treasures of cultural heritage for humanity. They expressed hope that joint efforts by India and Egypt in the preservation and protection of ancient sites will help broaden the understanding of the human past and culture and raise cultural awareness among the people of the two countries.
Noting the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts between India and Egypt, the two leaders agreed to explore possibilities to organize joint festivals, encourage the exchange of visits among pioneering figures in various art forms, explore common cultural elements, encourage translation of literary works, support cinematic creativity, and develop film industry in the two countries.
The two sides attached importance to enhance tourism cooperation by encouraging tourism and promotional events. They agreed to work on operating flights between New Delhi and Cairo, which may be followed by the operation of direct flights between other points of call in their respective countries, as per mutual agreement. The two countries are committed to encourage airlines of their respective countries to proceed fast in this direction by offering them all possible facilities and required flexibility.
Multilateral Forums
The two leaders acknowledged the close cooperation between India and Egypt in various multilateral forums and affirmed their commitment to achieve comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including by expanding both categories of membership and enhancing the representation of developing countries. India expressed its appreciation for Egypt’s efforts as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the term 2016-17. For its part, Egypt also appreciated India’s contribution as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the term 2021-22. Both countries agreed to cooperate when any of them is elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Egypt took note of India’s candidature for a non-permanent membership of the UNSC for the term 2028-29.
The two leaders highlighted the leading role of India and Egypt in the maintenance of international peace and security by being among the ten largest troop and police contributing countries to the United Nations peacekeeping missions. They reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the participation of troop-contributing countries in the decision-making process of such operations.
President Sisi praised India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilience (CDRI). India appreciated Egypt’s support for the ISA and looks forward to Egypt’s membership of the CDRI.
