India and Egypt are anticipated to signal about half a dozen agreements in areas starting from agriculture to digital throughout President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s upcoming go to, with defence and safety cooperation rising as a key pillar in bilateral relations.
Sisi would be the first Egyptian and the fifth West Asian chief to be chief visitor at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26. The invitation to the 68-year-old general-turned-politician is a part of India’s efforts to reset ties with Egypt, seen as a key gateway to markets in Africa and Europe.
Folks accustomed to the matter stated the 2 sides are anticipated to signal agreements to boost cooperation in areas equivalent to cyber-security and IT throughout Sisi’s assembly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 25. On the identical day, Sisi might be accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and he’ll work together with the enterprise group to draw extra Indian investments to Egypt.
Additionally Learn: Prez Sisi’s go to: Defence, inexperienced power in focus in India-Egypt cooperation
A 180-member navy contingent from Egypt will take part within the Republic Day parade, and Indian and Egyptian particular forces are presently conducting their first joint drill named Train Cyclone in Rajasthan. The individuals stated these are all indicators of the burgeoning defence cooperation. The continued 14-day train is aimed toward constructing inter-operability for counter-terrorism and different particular operations.
The individuals characterised defence cooperation as strong and stated Egypt has expressed curiosity in Indian platforms such because the Tejas gentle fight plane, Dhruv superior gentle helicopter, Akash surface-to-air missile and an indigenous sensible anti-airfield weapon. Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted is in contact with the Egyptian facet and the defence ministry is open to sharing expertise with Egypt, they stated.
The 2 sides have additionally enhanced coaching, joint workout routines and ship visits, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed throughout defence minister Rajnath Singh’s latest go to to Cairo. Egypt has additionally invited India to its Brilliant Star tri-services train in September.
The individuals listed a number of causes for India’s invitation to Sisi for the Republic Day celebrations, together with Egypt’s geo-strategic location, its function as a key participant within the politics of the Arab world and Africa, and its capability to function a gateway to massive markets in Europe and Africa because of a number of free commerce agreements.
Nearly 12% of worldwide commerce passes by way of the Suez Canal, and India-Egypt commerce registered an all-time excessive of $7.2 billion throughout 2021-22, a progress of 75%. Indian exports throughout this era had been value $3.74 billion, a rise of 64%, and the 2 sides have set a goal of taking two-way commerce to $12 billion in 5 years. Three Indian firms have signed agreements for inexperienced hydrogen initiatives in Egypt value $18 billion.
Egypt has additionally been positively disposed in the direction of India, together with in platforms such because the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the place Pakistan has often sought to rake up the Kashmir situation. In such cases, Egypt by no means supported Pakistan’s method on Kashmir and different points, the individuals stated.
The Al-Azhar College in Cairo, a key seat of Sunni Islam, is perceived as a reasonable voice that has issued fatwas denouncing terrorism. The 2 sides have additionally taken steps to boost cooperation in opposition to terrorism and an upcoming assembly of the joint working group on counter-terrorism in February is predicted to concentrate on information-sharing, darkish net, and misuse of drones and social media, the individuals stated.
With the Indian facet having indicated that the decision of the Palestine situation is predicted to determine in Sisi’s discussions whereas in New Delhi, the individuals stated India’s stance this situation has at all times been constant. India is boosting coaching and capability constructing for Palestinians, and is constructing a vocational coaching centre, a girls’s empowerment centre, a hospital and a diplomatic academy in Palestine. India has additionally elevated its annual contribution to the UN Reduction and Works Company by 4 occasions to $5 million, they stated.