Egypt, India launch 'strategic partnership' to boost trade
New Delhi, India – Egypt and India announced Thursday a "strategic partnership" to increase trade by billions of dollars and strengthen diplomatic ties, as President Abdel Fattah al-sisi concluded a visit to New Delhi.
Facing a worsening economic crisis, Egypt is scrambling to boost international trade and attract investors.
India is already Egypt's seventh-largest trading partner, according to data from Cairo's central bank, with a joint statement issued Thursday touting "a record high of Us$7.26bn" during the last fiscal year.
Sisi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expect annual bilateral trade to rise "to Us$12bn within the next five years", said the statement, capping the Egyptian president's three-day visit.
Modi hosted Sisi on Thursday as "guest of honour" for a Republic Day ceremony, marking the anniversary of the adoption of India's post-independence constitution.
The two leaders agreed to increase Indian investments in Egypt, which currently stand at "over Us$3.15bn" according to their statement, including through a potential "dedicated land area for Indian industries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone".
The statement also notes "strengthened bilateral cooperation" in agriculture, space research and tourism.
The economic crisis in Egypt, triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, has sent the local currency plummeting.
The war has also unsettled global investors who pulled billions out of the North African country.
The Egyptian pound has lost half its value against the US dollar since March, following a devaluation demanded as part of a Us$3bn loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
In a sign of closer diplomatic ties, Modi has also invited Sisi to participate in the G20 summit in India in September to represent "the interests and priorities of the global south", their statement said.