Guwahati: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the chief guest at India’s 74th Republic Day celebrations, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday.
President el-Sisi will be in India from January 26-26 at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation, the foreign ministry said.
“This is for the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on our Republic Day,” the MEA said. There will also be a military contingent from the Egyptian Army at the Republic Day parade.
President el-Sisi will meet with business leaders and have in-depth discussions with Prime Minister Modi during his visit. A high-level delegation consisting of five ministers and senior officials will travel with him.
The 68-year-old leader is due to land in New Delhi on January 24 where his visit is anticipated to strengthen the two nations’ “time-tested” alliance.
President Sisi has already travelled to India both in September 2016 on a state visit and in October 2015 to take part in the third India Africa Forum Summit.
This year, India and Egypt are commemorating 75 years since their diplomatic ties were first established. Moreover, Egypt has been asked to participate as a “Guest Country” during India’s G-20 Presidency in 2022–2023.
“On January 25, 2023, President Sisi will receive a formal welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and that same evening, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu will hold a State Banquet in honour of the distinguished visitor.
The Prime Minister and President Sisi will meet privately and speak at the delegation level about bilateral, regional, and global topics of mutual importance “MEA stated.
President Sisi will receive a visit from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the same day that the dignitary will meet with the Indian business sector at a business event.
India and Egypt have cordial relations that are characterised by shared economic, cultural, and civilizational ties as well as strong people-to-people interactions. The complex relationship is founded on similar cultural ideals, a desire to promote economic development, cooperation in the domains of defence and security, and agreement on local and international concerns. At bilateral and multilateral fora, the two nations collaborate closely.
Bilateral trade between Egypt and India reached a record high of USD 7.26 billion in FY 2021–22. The trade was roughly balanced with $3.74 billion in Indian exports to Egypt and $3.52 billion in Egyptian imports to India. Around 3.15 billion USD has been invested in various areas of the Egyptian economy by more than 50 Indian enterprises, including chemicals, energy, textile, clothing, agribusiness, retail, etc.