EGYPT

Inaugural Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone - I Commences in Rajasthan, 20 January 2023

The first ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named “Exercise Cyclone-I” is in progress at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan since 14 January 2023. The exercise aims to bolster defence co-operation between the two nations and focus on sharing professional skills and interoperability of Special Forces in desert terrain while undertaking counter terrorism, reconnaissance, raids and other special operations.

Exercise “Cyclone - I” is the first exercise of its kind bringing the special forces of both the nations on a common platform. The 14 days long exercise which is being carried out in the deserts of Rajasthan engages both the contingents to advance special forces skills such as Sniping, Combat Free Fall, Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Designation, sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures. The participants would also undertake joint planning and drills for Special Forces operations in a mechanised warfare setting as well as surgical strikes on terrorist camps / hideouts to include sniping of High Value Targets.

The joint exercise would provide an insight into the culture and ethos of both armies thereby fostering military cooperation and interoperability to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between India and Egypt. Source: Press Information Bureau.

State Visit of President of Egypt to India (January 24-26, 2023), 21 January 2023

President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, will pay a State visit to India from 24-26 January 2023 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. President Sisi, who will be on his second State Visit to India, will also be the Chief Guest on India’s 74th Republic Day. President Sisi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including five Ministers and senior officials. He is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on 24 January 2023.

2. ​President Sisi has previously visited India in October 2015 to participate in the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit and in September 2016 on a State Visit. This is for the first time that President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on our Republic Day. A military contingent from Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade.

3.​ India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Egypt has also been invited as a ‘Guest Country’ during India’s Presidency of G-20 in 2022-23.

4. President Sisi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 25 January 2023 and President Smt. Droupadi Murmu will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary the same evening. President Sisi will have a bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will call on President Sisi. The visiting dignitary will also interact with Indian Business community at a business event on the same day.

5. India and Egypt enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence & security and convergence on regional and global issues. The two countries work closely at multilateral and international platforms.

6. Bilateral trade between India and Egypt achieved a record high of USD 7.26 billion in FY 2021-22. The trade was fairly balanced, with USD 3.74 billion Indian exports to Egypt and USD 3.52 billion imports from Egypt to India. More than 50 Indian companies have invested around USD 3.15 billion in diverse sectors of Egyptian economy, including chemicals, energy, textile, garment, agri-business, retail, etc.

7.​The forthcoming visit of President Sisi is expected to further strengthen and deepen the time-tested partnership between India and Egypt. Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India.  

PM extends warm welcome to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, 24 January 2023

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended warm welcome to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi  is on a State visit to India from 24-26 January 2023 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. President Sisi, who is on his second State Visit to India, will also be the Chief Guest on India’s 74th Republic Day.

The Prime Minister tweeted :

"Warm welcome to India, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Your historic visit to India as Chief Guest for our Republic Day celebrations is a matter of immense happiness for all Indians. Look forward to our discussions tomorrow. @AlsisiOfficial". Source: Press Information Bureau.

English Translation of Press Statement by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi during the visit of the President of Egypt to India, 25 January 2023

Your Excellency, President Sisi,

Ministers and delegates from both countries

Friends of the media,

At the outset, I would like to extend a warm welcome to President Sisi, and his delegation to India. President Sisi is attending our Republic Day celebrations tomorrow as the chief guest. It is a matter of pride and joy for the whole of India. I am also happy that a military contingent from Egypt is also participating in our Republic Day parade and adding glory to it.

Friends,

India and Egypt are among the oldest civilizations in the world. We have had continuing relationship for thousands of years. More than four thousand years ago, trade with Egypt used to take place through the Lothal Port of Gujarat. And despite various changes in the world, our relations have been stable, and our cooperation has been continuously strengthened.

Our cooperation has deepened in the last few years. And for this, I would like to give a huge credit to the able leadership of my friend President Sisi.

This year, India has invited Egypt as a guest country during its G-20 Presidency, which reflects our special friendship.

Friends,

At one side of the Arabian Sea is India and on the other side is Egypt. Strategic cooperation between the two countries will help in promoting peace and prosperity in the entire region. So in today's meeting, President Sisi and I decided to elevate our bilateral partnership to the level of "Strategic Partnership". We have decided that under the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership, we will develop a long-term framework of greater cooperation in political, security, economic and scientific fields.

India and Egypt are worried about the spread of terrorism happening around the world. We are unanimous in the opinion that terrorism is the most serious security threat to humanity. Both countries also agree that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism. And for this, together we will continue to try to alert the international community.

There is also immense potential for enhancing security and defence cooperation between us. In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in joint exercise training and capacity building between our armies. We have also decided in today's meeting to further strengthen cooperation between our defence industries, and enhance the exchange of information and intelligence related to counter-terrorism.

Misuse of cyber space to spread extremist ideologies and radicalization is a growing menace. We will extend cooperation against this also.

Friends,

We have closely observed the adverse effects on healthcare infrastructure and global supply chains during the Covid pandemic. President Sisi and I have remained in close contact during this challenging period, and both countries have sent each other immediate assistance in times of need.

Today, we have held extensive discussions on strengthening the food and pharma supply chains affected by the COVID and the Ukraine conflict. We also agreed on the need to increase mutual investment and trade in these areas. Together we have decided that in the next five years we will take our bilateral trade to 12 billion dollars.

Friends,

We commend Egypt for successfully hosting COP-27, and for its efforts to ensure the interests of developing countries in the climate sector.

India and Egypt have had long and excellent cooperation in the United Nations and other international forums. We both agree on the need for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve international disputes.

Excellency,

I once again extend a warm welcome to you and your delegation to India. I also wish you and the people of Egypt a very Happy New Year.

Thank you very much!

DISCLAIMER - This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister’s remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi. Source: Press Information Bureau.

Prasar Bharati and National Media Authority (NMA), Egypt, to exchange programmes for TV and Radio, 25 January 2023

India and Egypt today signed an MOU to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and Co-Productions between Prasar Bharati and National Media Authority of Egypt. The MoU was signed by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Youth affairs and Sports and Mr. Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Egypt. The MoUs were exchanged between the two countries in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and the Hon’ble President of Egypt following the delegation level talks between the two sides at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

The MOU is part of the efforts by Prasar Bharati to expand the reach of DD India Channel to show-case the country’s progress through programs focussed on economy, technology, social development and also the rich cultural heritage.  Under the ambit of this MoU, both the broadcasters will exchange their programs of different genres like Sports, News, Culture, Entertainment and many more areas on bilateral basis and these programs will be telecast on their Radio and Television platforms. The MOU which will be valid for three years will also facilitate co-productions and training of the officials of both the broadcasters in latest technologies. 

Prasar Bharati, Public Service Broadcaster of India currently has 39 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with foreign broadcasters for co-operation and collaboration in the field of broadcasting. These MoUs provide for exchange of programmes with foreign broadcasters in the field of culture, education, science, entertainment, sports, news etc. The MoUs also provide for co-production opportunities related to themes of mutual interest and knowledge sharing through trainings.. Source: Press Information Bureau.

PM thanks President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing Republic Day celebrations, 26 January 2023

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi thanked President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt for gracing this year’s Republic Day celebrations. President Sisi was the Chief Guest on India’s 74th Republic Day.

The Prime Minister tweeted :

"I am grateful to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for gracing this year’s Republic Day celebrations with his august presence @AlsisiOfficial." Source: Press Information Bureau.

ISRAEL

PM speaks to His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, 11 January 2023

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on telephone today with His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.

Prime Minister conveyed his warm congratulations to H.E. Netanyahu for his election as the Prime Minister of Israel for a sixth time, and wished him a very successful tenure. 

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the rapid progress in the India-Israel Strategic Partnership in recent years, and agreed on the potential for further strengthening strategic cooperation in a variety of areas.

Prime Minister invited H.E. Netanyahu to visit India at an early date. Source: Press Information Bureau.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Visit of Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan to UAE (January 19-21, 2023), 18 January 2023

Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan will undertake a visit to the UAE from 19-21 January 2023. During the visit, MoS will meet with the UAE Ministers and a broad cross-section of the Indian community in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other Emirates of the UAE. This will include engagements with Indian businesspersons, professionals, teachers and students. MOS will also interact with Indian blue-collar workers and social leaders in the UAE.

India and UAE have continued to maintain close coordination in the spirit of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This year will be special for both India and UAE as they have taken over their respective presidencies of G20 and COP28. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar paid a visit to UAE in December 2022 while UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India in November 2022. UAE Foreign Minister also participated in the G20 related session of Voice of Global South Summit hosted by India on 13 January 2023. Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India.

PM lauds utilisation of India-UAE CEPA by Indian Exporters, 31 January 2023

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the utilisation of India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by Indian Exporters.

Sharing a tweet by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, the Prime Minister tweeted;

“A great sign for Indian enterprise, it will make Indian products popular globally.” Source: Press Information Bureau.

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND P R Kumaraswamy.