( 4 minutes read) (Global)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Egypt, which started yesterday (Saturday) on June 24. He will be meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi today (Sunday). Prime Minister Modi already had a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo yesterday (Saturday). This is Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Egypt as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit by any Indian PM in 26 years.
Prime Minister Modi has already met some dignitaries yesterday and a few more meetings with prominent leaders will take place today. The Prime Minister will also address the Indian Community in Egypt today, as he winds up his two-day tour. As the first leg of the present visits, Prime Minister Modi visited the US and addressed a joint session of the Congress and Senate.
Egyptian President El-Sisi visited India in January. At that time, the two countries agreed to elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership. Further developments on this front are expected from Modi’s visit. Heads of State of two countries are expected to take forward the discussions on drawing up a strong and futuristic bilateral strategic relationship, analysts maintain.
Importantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo on Saturday. The trip has been expected to pave the way for a substantial increase in India’s investment in the North African country. Egypt is eying at gaining entry into the BRICS economic bloc. Analysts say it could also reveal the contours of how ties could unfurl in the days ahead.
Egypt is trying to diversify partnerships beyond the Western bloc. At the same time, India is looking at consolidating its position as a voice of the Global South as it gears up to host the G20 meeting in September in the capital New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi is expected to sign various trade agreements. While Egypt has eyed increasing India’s investment in the country, experts said New Delhi is looking for deeper access to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through Cairo.
Analysts maintain that Modi will try to balance China in the BRIC and also to prevent Pakistan, which Beijing wants to be a part of BRICS. Prime Minister Modi is likely to announce India’s support for Egypt’s desire to join BRICS. The most populous country in MENA, Egypt holds a crucial geostrategic significance as 12 percent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal. Cairo can be a gateway to major markets in both Europe and Africa for India, experts said. India has also been concerned about China’s growing influence in Egypt.
Read also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/ifc-and-egypt-to-cope-together-to-promote-private-sector/
https://trendsnafrica.com/tripartite-consortium-to-build-10-gw-mega-wind-farm-in-egypt/
China’s bilateral trade with Egypt is currently at US$15bn, double that of India’s US$7.26bn in 2021-22. The latest bilateral trade reached $5.18bn from April 22 to January 23. India has opened almost 20 new missions on the African continent. Allying with Egypt, India could have a deeper access to the Arab world, Africa, and much deeper access to Israel. After taking over the G20 presidency in December 2022, India has invited Egypt to participate as a guest country.
