India and Egypt Seek to Deepen Strategic Partnership as Modi Meets Sisi

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with the talks focusing on strengthening the India-Egypt strategic partnership and expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.

Modi welcomed El-Sisi’s participation in the summit, while the Egyptian president praised India’s successful BRICS presidency and its efforts to strengthen coordination among member states in support of the interests of the Global South and multilateral international cooperation.

The two leaders reviewed the growing momentum in bilateral relations since Egypt and India elevated their ties to a strategic partnership in 2023. El-Sisi stressed the importance of translating this partnership into concrete economic initiatives, including increasing bilateral trade to $12 billion and attracting greater Indian investment in Egypt, particularly in manufacturing, technology, clean energy and automotive industries.

Highlighting Egypt’s investment potential, El-Sisi pointed to the country’s 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, for his part, reaffirmed India’s commitment to further expanding bilateral ties across multiple sectors and highlighted Egypt’s strategic role in its region, along with its considerable economic and human-resource potential. He also emphasized the Indian government’s encouragement of Indian companies to explore investment opportunities in Egypt and called for stronger links between the two countries’ business communities to promote joint ventures and technology transfer.

The discussions also explored new areas of cooperation, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, pharmaceuticals and information technology, reflecting the growing scope of the economic partnership and the potential for greater private-sector engagement.

Beyond economic ties, the two leaders exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, particularly the Palestinian issue. El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s position in favor of resolving regional crises through peaceful and diplomatic means, negotiations and respect for international law, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while stressing the need to halt escalation and the use of force.