Omkar Dattatray
After the historical visit of prime minister Narendra Modi to America ,the global leader which undoubtedly Modi is has embarked on a visit to an Arabian country Egypt and has completed this visit as well with success and the PM has since returned to India. PM Modi was received at the airport by Egyptian prime minister Mustfa Madbouly. In Egypt PM Modi has again created history .India and Egypt on Sunday signed an agreement on strategic partnership as PM Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with president Abdel Fattah El –Sisi in Cairo .The government of Egypt bestowed the highest honor of the land –the Order of the Nile –on visiting Indian leader and Prime minister Modi described his first visit to Egypt as historic .The four agreements that were signed during the visit (June 24-25) of the honorable prime minister –first ,the most important ,and a landmark development in the history of the bilateral relationship was the signature on the strategic partnership between India and Egypt .It was signed by PM Modi and president EI Sisi of Egypt .Egypt and India share deep ties that date back to the 1950s ,when the two countries played key role in funding the Non-Alignment Movement .Modi’s visit is the first by an Indian premier since 1997.Indian PM Modi and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah EI –Sisi signed a strategic agreement ,underscoring growing ties between the two countries that experts say can spark geopolitical and economic significance .Modi arrived in Cairo on Saturday afternoon following a four day trip to the US ,marking the first state visit to Egypt by an Indian premier since 1997.An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership was signed by the two leaders .The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries ,including in trade and country that divestment ,defense &security ,renewable energy ,cultural and people to people ties .Bagchi said their meeting was productive ,with India and Egypt also signing three other memoranda of understanding in agriculture ,archaeology and antiquities and competition law .Modi also visited the historical Al –Hakim Mosque in Cario ,recently renovated with the help of India –based Dawoodi Bohra community and met with Grand Mufti Shawki Allam,Egypt’s Islamic jurist .In January ,Modi and EI –Sisi agreed to increase bilateral trade to dollar 12 billion on the next five years ,up from dollar 7.3 billion in 2020-21.The two countries signed several agreements in New Delhi then on expanding cooperation in cyber security ,information technology ,culture and broadcasting .There is now an opportunity to develop a special relationship with a country that despite its present economic difficulties will always be an important player in the Middle East .The experts say that closer ties with Egypt may bring strategic benefits for India. ’’Egypts position in the region is important for growing India’s profile in the region ‘’Dr Zakir Hussain ,a Middle East expert based in New Delhi ,told Arab News. ’’India is securing favorable treatment in trade ,an industrial berth in the Suez canal Free Zone ,to access the Europe market and all those areas where Egypt has free trade deals such as Latin America ,Africa and the Middle East .’’Hussain said ,adding that ’’India needs to access these markets to achieve the target of dollar 1 trillion merchandize exports by 2030’’Modi’s visit to Egypt holds great significance in strengthening India-Egypt ties and bilateral relationships ,said Mohammed Soliman ,tech program director at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC .The interaction between Pm Modi and Egypt President el –Sisi highlights the growing cooperation between two countries ,especially in recent years .While Delhi seeks to consolidate its position in the Arab world with Cairo’s help ,the latter wants India to expand its trade and investment in the country to help deal with the ongoing economic crisis .After wrapping up his first state visit to the US ,PM Modi landed in Egypt to kick started his two day visit to Egypt .Arriving for the first time in Cairo since he assumed the top job ,Modi is the first Indian PM who embarked upon an official bilateral visit to the country since 1997.Modi interacted with Indian with the Indian community in Egypt and met prominent personalities and business heads .Modi visited 11th century Al –Hakim Mosque and held bilateral talks with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el –Sisi ,who visited India earlier this year as the chief gust for republic Day celebrations .As the two leaders met for the second time within six months and ,the interaction highlighted the growing cooperation between the two countries ,especially in recent years .The relationship between New Delhi and Cairo remained at its low ebb in the post independent India but after Modi took the reins of government there was a turnaround in situation .Since 2014 ,India has sought to engage with West Asian countries .The reason ,as Raja Mohan explained in the interview ,for doing so are quite clear –Delhi wants huge amounts of capital from Gulf Nations ,curtail religious extremism by supporting moderate countries in the region while encouraging social reforms ,and participate in the security politics of the area .And in order to do all this ,India has realized that Egypt is a key player .The country has remained fairly moderate over the years ,shares strong ties with the UAE and Sudia Arabia (both nations have made heavy investments in Egypt) ,and is located at a crucial geo –strategic location –12% of global trade passes through Suez Canal .Therefore the bilateral relations between Delhi and Cairo have once again taken centre stage .Meanwhile Cairo wants India’s help to tackle its battered economy .The outbreak of the Covid -19 pandemic coupled with the implications of Russia-Ukraine war has worsened its financial woes .Inflation in the country is at a five year high of over 30% and it has approached the IMF for the fourth time in six years for a bailout .According to a report by The Indian Express ,Egypt has sought investments in infrastructure –Metro projects in Cairo and Alexandria ,Suez Canal economic zone ,a second channel of the Suez Canal and a new administrative capital in a Cairo suburb .More than 50 Indian companies have invested more than dollar 15 billion in Egypt from Delhi .As Modi landed in Cairo ,the two leaders worked further towards deepening the toes between the two countries .Modi was given a red carpet welcome and the chants of modi-Modi rented the air every where he went.PM Modi on Sunday concluded his two day state visit to Egypt ,headlined by him being conferred with the African countries highest state honor and he visited 1000 year old mosque and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who has laid their lives in world war first .Modi said, ’’My visit to Egypt was a historical one.’ ’Modi who made a state visit to Egypt at the invitation of the President ,held a private one to one conversation with El –Sisi at the Ittihadia place during which they reviewed important developments in the region and the world .This was the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Egypt in 26 years.PM Modi on Sunday left for India after concluding his first ever visit to Egypt where he held talks with the president El-Sisi on a host of issues concerning both the countries and world .Egyptcian president Sisi backs india’s focus on Global South as ties turn strategic .Modi said, ’’My visit to Egypt was a historical one.It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations .I thank president @ Alsisi official ,the government and the people of Egypt for their affection ’.In short the PM Modi’s state visit to Egypt was a landmark one and it will cement the bilateral relations between India and Egypt.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)
