Egypt-India relations are bilateral relations between Egypt and India. Relations between India and Egypt go back several millennia, but it was in the 20th century that they took a significant turn.
Modern Egypt-India relations go back to the contacts between Saad Zaghloul and Mahatma Gandhi on the common goals of their respective movements of independence. The oldest civilizational link between India and Egypt, dates back to 2750 BCE when the Pharaoh Sahure sent ships to the “Land of Punt,” identified with peninsular India.
In recent years, there has been a remarkable rapprochement, particularly on the military and economic fronts, reflecting India’s growing importance as a power in Asia.Recent visit of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be seen in the context of ancient relations between india and Egypt.
President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser receiving the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, c.
Diplomatic and Political Relations
In 1955, Egypt, under Gamal Abdel Nasser and India under Jawaharlal Nehru, became the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. A Friendship Treaty was signed between Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
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During the 1956 War, Nehru stood supporting Egypt to the point of threatening to withdraw his country from the British Commonwealth. In 1967, following the Six-Day War, India supported Egypt and the Arabs.
In 1977, New Delhi described the visit of President Anwar al-Sadat to Jerusalem as a "brave" move and considered the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel a primary step on the path of a just settlement of the Middle East problem.
Since 2014, there has been an increased focus on political cooperation between India and Egypt. The relationship between India and Egypt has witnessed an upswing in recent years.
India and Egypt have signed various agreements to enhance cooperation in different sectors. Technical cooperation and assistance have been a major part of our bilateral relationship. Not only does Egypt need to reach out to potential partners as part of its economic recovery plan, but India also wants to expand its markets to the south. A partnership between the two economic superpowers is a positive-sum game. Another context is that of the BRICS, where Egypt faces several competitive challenges in the dollar markets. Turning to the BRICS markets seems to be the most optimal alternative.
Diplomatic Missions
- Embassy of Egypt, New Delhi
- Embassy of India, Cairo
- Envoy: Ambassador Kamel Zayed Galal
- Ambassador Shri Suresh K.
Economic Ties
India-Egypt Ties: Barter Trade and Credit Line Deal Expected as PM Modi Visits | World Business News
Indians had already been trading with Egypt for a long time even before the conquest of Egypt by the Romans. In 2003, Indian giant Reliance signed a contract with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) to import 8 shipments of crude oil in 2003. Two years preceding the contract, they had imported shipments from Egypt.
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In 2008, India's KEC International Limited, received its largest order worth ₹636 crore (US$75 million) from Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company. It was completed on a turnkey basis within a period 24 months. This, however, was not the first time. KEC International has been laying power transmission lines in Egypt for more than 40 years.
In 2011, Egyptian investment in India was at about US$30 million. El Sewedy Group, an Egyptian company, manufactures electric metres in India. The current Indian investment in Egypt stands at US$2.5 billion in about 45 projects.
Major Egyptian exports to India include raw cotton, raw and manufactured fertilizers, oil and oil products, organic and non-organic chemicals, leather and iron products. Major imports into Egypt from India are cotton yarn, sesame, coffee, herbs, tobacco and lentils.
The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum is also currently negotiating the establishment of a natural gas-operated fertilizer plant with another Indian company. Egypt’s large population and economy present opportunities for India to supply key imports such as refined petroleum, wheat, cars, corn, and pharmaceuticals.
The Indian Prime Minister stressed the importance of Egypt in terms of investment, pointing out that Indian companies have invested more than 170 million USD in the North African country in just 6 months. About 450 Indian companies are present in Egypt, covering sectors such as apparel, agriculture, energy, and retail.
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The strategic and economic position of the Suez Canal comes into play. The current volume of trade between the two countries is 7 billion USD, of which 4 billion USD is foreign direct investment.
It is important to note that Egypt’s exports to India will total 1.7 billion USD in 2022, down from 3.5 billion USD in 2021. Two key sectors deserve special attention in the trade relationship between the two countries: defense and agriculture. In agriculture, following the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Egypt turned to India for its wheat imports.
Trade and Investment Highlights
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Egyptian Exports to India (2022) | 1.7 billion USD |
| Egyptian Exports to India (2021) | 3.5 billion USD |
| Indian Investment in Egypt | US$2.5 billion (in about 45 projects) |
| Trade Volume | 7 billion USD |
| Indian Companies in Egypt | About 450 |
Cultural and Military Cooperation
During the 1960s, there was a significant level of cooperation between the Air Forces of India and Egypt, including joint efforts to develop a fighter aircraft.
Egypt actively participated in the Multinational Training Exercise held in Pune, India, in 2019, which involved friendly African countries.
The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) in Egypt promotes cultural cooperation through activities such as language classes, seminars, film shows, exhibitions, and participation in local cultural events.
The Indian community in Egypt, numbering around 3,200, plays a significant role in cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Strengthening military ties between the two countries would give a major push to the Indian defense manufacturing units and allow India to expand on its defense exports. Considering the geopolitical challenges surrounding Egypt in the MENA region, defense cooperation would also lay the groundwork for Egypt to foster its own defense industry.
Contemporary Relations
President Mubarak of Egypt visited India in 2008. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi's Egypt and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's India maintain a friendly, cooperative rapport and show a clear appetite for closer ties.
On his maiden visit to Egypt last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, marking the latest move in rapidly warming ties between the two countries. The visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 26 years, witnessed an elevation in the relationship to a ‘strategic partnership,’ signalling a boost in cooperation between the two countries. This visit comes at a crucial time following President El-Sisi’s presence as the Chief Guest on India’s Republic Day earlier this year.
During their meeting, President El-Sisi and PM Modi highlighted several areas to strengthen engagement, including enhanced political and security cooperation, defense collaboration, increased trade and investment ties, and scientific and academic collaboration. In addition to the agreement on strategic partnership, the two countries signed pacts on agriculture sectors, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law.
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