Celebrating 77 Years of the Indian Republic: Deepening the India–Egypt Strategic Bond

The Indian Embassy in Egypt hosted a grand reception to celebrate India's 77th Republic Day, under the patronage of the Indian Ambassador to Egypt, Suresh K. Reddy. The event was attended by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population; Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade; Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation; Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; and a large number of prominent politicians, diplomats, journalists, and media figures.

In his remarks at the reception, Ambassador Suresh K. Reddy emphasized that this occasion was a moment of pride and celebration as India entered its 77th year as a republic. He noted that the celebration held special significance for him and his wife, Sneha, as it was their first national reception in Egypt.

The ambassador said that his return to Egypt after three decades, having spent his career there as a young diplomat, fills him with a profound sense of humility as he witnesses the deepening and diversification of Egyptian-Indian relations under the personal guidance of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He explained that 2025 witnessed significant milestones in Egypt's history, including the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the smooth and successful conduct of the Senate and House of Representatives elections. He added that India, as a true strategic partner of Egypt, was keen to support the Peace Summit through the participation of the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, and also joined the Egyptian people in celebrating the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which he described as "a gift to humanity." He congratulated the Egyptian people on the historic success of the recent elections, emphasizing that India, as the world's largest democracy, highly values ​​this important democratic experience.

The Ambassador noted that 2025 was a pivotal year in the strategic partnership between the two countries, marked by numerous high-level visits, beginning with the visit of the multi-party Indian parliamentary delegation following the horrific attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. He expressed his country's appreciation for the personal call made by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Indian Prime Minister, during which he expressed his solidarity with India and affirmed the two countries' shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms.

The Ambassador also expressed his deep gratitude to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and extended special thanks to Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, for the warm reception accorded to Indian Health Minister Dr. J.P. Nadda, as well as to Ambassador Amr Hamza, in recognition of their continued support for bilateral relations.

He emphasized that cooperation between Egypt and India, from the historic first strategic dialogue and India's participation in the Bright Star military exercises with its largest contingent, to the partnership between India and Genfax—the largest of its kind in the region—which resulted in the establishment of the first active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing plant in Egypt using Indian technology, clearly reflects the strength, depth, and diversity of the relationship between the two countries.

Regarding economic relations, the ambassador noted the presence of more than 60 Indian manufacturing facilities in Egypt, including TCI Sanmar, which represents the largest single manufacturing investment in the country. He explained that economic and trade relations between the two countries are closely aligned with the "Made in Egypt" vision, through job creation, transforming Egypt into a regional export hub, and building a strong and sustainable economic bridge.

The ambassador also discussed the cultural and community activities undertaken by the Indian Embassy in Cairo, affirming that India believes in achieving results on a large scale, an approach the embassy also embraces. In this context, the embassy, ​​in partnership with the Egyptian side, organized the annual "Glimpses of India" drawing competition, with the participation of more than 29,000 students from 23 Egyptian governorates. The ambassador described it as the largest interactive activity with the Egyptian public ever undertaken by any embassy in Egypt. He invited attendees to view some of the artworks displayed during the event.

He added that Egypt was selected as a partner country for the Surajkund International Handicrafts Fair, the largest of its kind in the world, with the participation of more than 55 Egyptian artisans, a move that reflects the depth of cultural exchange between the two countries.

The ambassador also addressed India's economic achievements, noting that 2025 marked a turning point, solidifying India's position as a global hub for stability and innovation. India became the world's fourth-largest economy, recording GDP growth of 8.2% in the second half of the year. He pointed out that this growth was comprehensive and manufacturing-led, with exports reaching a record high of $865 billion and the unemployment rate falling to 4.7%.

In the area of ​​digital transformation, the ambassador explained that India continues to export its digital infrastructure to the world as a public good, noting that the instant payments system processed more than 21 billion transactions in a single month in 2025. He also announced the launch of India's indigenous 64-bit processor, Dhrova, and the unveiling of the 25-qubit quantum supercomputer, QBI-Indus.

He highlighted the significant progress in the infrastructure sector, including the construction of 150,000 kilometers of highways and the electrification of 50,000 kilometers of railway lines, resulting in a transformative leap in connectivity. He further emphasized that one of India's most notable achievements was meeting the COP26 climate goals five years ahead of schedule, and that more than 50% of its installed electricity generation capacity now comes from non-fossil fuel sources.

In the field of space science, the Ambassador highlighted India's successful testing of Vyommitra, a humanoid robot, a step that paves the way for the Gaganyaan manned space mission to explore further secrets of space.

The Ambassador concluded his remarks by emphasizing his country's anticipation of the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of India and the Arab states in New Delhi, considering it a new chapter in the ongoing relationship between India and the Arab world. He also expressed his gratitude to the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, for his continued support in strengthening these relations.

He affirmed India's support for Egypt's participation in the BRICS group, expressing his hope for enhanced cooperation both within the group under India's chairmanship and bilaterally between the two countries. In closing, the Ambassador thanked the attendees for their participation in this celebration, which commemorates India's journey towards sustainable growth, inclusive development, and green transformation, concluding with: "Long live India."