The 76th Republic Day of India Message

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Mrs. C. Sushma

As we commemorate the 76th Republic Day of India on 26th January 2025, it is an opportune moment to reflect on India’s remarkable journey as a Republic. Since adopting our Constitution on 26th January 1950, India has evolved into a vibrant democracy and a dynamic economy. As we set our sights on becoming a developed nation by 2047, our longstanding partnership with Egypt, which dates back to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1947, continues to play an essential role in our shared aspirations.

India and Egypt share a civilisational bond that transcends millennia. Historical records, including the edicts of Emperor Ashoka, reference India’s relations with Egypt under Ptolemy II in the 3rd century BCE. In the modern era, our ties were cemented through the deep camaraderie between President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, leading to the signing of the India-Egypt Friendship Treaty in 1955. This agreement laid the foundation for our collaboration on bilateral, regional, and global issues, including our shared commitment to the Non-Aligned Movement.

Our bilateral relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2023, marked by the landmark visits of President
Abdel Fattah El Sisi as the Chief Guest at India’s 74th Republic Day celebrations in January 2023 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reciprocal visit in June 2023. The signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement has provided a structured framework for co-operation across multiple domains, including high-level political engagements, defence collaboration, trade and investment, security, cultural exchanges, and emerging technologies.

Over the past two years, our partnership has witnessed significant momentum through regular high-level engagements. In addition to the bilateral visits in 2023, our leaders have interacted at various international forums, including the BRICS Summit in Russia in October 2024 and the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024. The meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatti in New York in September 2024 further reinforced our strategic dialogue. Our diplomatic engagements culminated in the bilateral Foreign Office Consultations in December 2024 in New Delhi, with more high-level exchanges planned in the coming months. Around a dozen delegations have visited bilaterally across sectors like trade & investments and IT & telecom among others. 

India, now the fifth-largest global economy with a GDP of nearly $4 trillion, is well on track to becoming the third-largest economy within the next few years. Egypt is an essential partner in this journey, and India is committed to supporting Egypt’s Vision 2030 in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Indian investments in Egypt, amounting to $4 billion, have created 38,000 local jobs and contribute significantly to the country’s economy through exports worth $1-1.5 billion annually. Indian companies are increasingly viewing Egypt as a strategic gateway to Africa and Europe, with expanding interests in renewable energy, electric vehicles, digital technologies, and manufacturing sectors. Bilateral trade between our nations reached a record $7.3 billion in 2021-22, reflecting our growing economic synergy.

India’s rapid strides in infrastructure, healthcare, innovation, and entrepreneurship offer significant opportunities for collaboration with Egypt. India builds 34 kilometres of highways and 14 kilometres of railway tracks daily, operates over 150 airports, and maintains a median port turnaround time of just 0.9 days – among the most efficient globally. 

Our startup ecosystem, ranked third in the world, boasts over 160,000 recognised startups and 117 unicorns with valuations exceeding $1 billion. As the “pharmacy of the world,” India supplies 50% of the global vaccine demand and leads cost-effective innovations in the space sector, having launched 429 foreign satellites. We aspire to capture 8% of the $44 billion global space market by 2033.

Beneficial collaborations can be forged with Egypt with Indian businesses keen to support Egypt’s modernisation efforts in healthcare, infrastructure, waste management, and water desalination. The collaboration between India’s Serum Institute and Egypt’s VACSERA, which produced over 70 million vaccine doses, is a testament to our successful partnerships.

India has emerged as a global leader in digital innovation and financial inclusion. Indian internet and cyber space revolution coupled with the most affordable mobile data (0.09 $ per 1 GB) is reflected in over 950 million internet subscribers in India. Our digital payment ecosystem, powered by the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), processes over 16 billion transactions monthly, providing seamless access to financial services for millions. India is working closely with Egypt to develop digital public infrastructure that ensures equitable access to technology for all. Our bilateral MoUs on IT, cyber security and the CERT (Cyber Emergency Response Team) agencies offer numerous avenues for collaboration.

Bilateral defence co-operation has grown significantly, with over 55 Indian defence delegations visiting Egypt in the past three years. Regular tri-service military exercises underscore the depth of our defence partnership. Large-scale participation of Indian Air Force in the recent Tactical Leadership Program held in Egypt and India’s Sarang Helicopter team at the first-ever Egyptian International Airshow exemplify our expanding defence engagement.

Cultural exchanges remain a cornerstone of our relationship. In November 2024, an astounding 23,000 Egyptian schoolchildren participated in the ‘Glimpses of India’ Painting Competition. Indian culture, particularly yoga, has gained immense popularity in Egypt, with thousands participating in International Yoga Day celebrations. With direct flights between Cairo, New Delhi, and Mumbai, tourism exchanges are witnessing steady growth, unlocking immense potential in this sector.

The vibrant Indian diaspora of 6,000 in Egypt contributes significantly to the local economy, while Egyptian universities are becoming attractive educational hubs for Indian students, with 2,000 students currently enrolled in leading institutions such as Al Azhar University and Cairo University. India is also committed to the capacity building of young Egyptian professionals and offers 12 full scholarships and 200 fully sponsored training opportunities, every year. Over 1500 Egyptian professionals underwent training in India’s premier training institutes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme.

As two influential nations of the Global South, India and Egypt share a unique demographic dividend – 60% of Egypt’s population is under 30 years old, and 65% of India’s population is under 35. Our mutual focus on skill development and capacity building will ensure that our youth contribute meaningfully to the global economy.

India welcomed Egypt’s entry into BRICS and looks forward to deepening collaboration at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, to address global challenges collectively.

As India marches towards its centennial milestone of becoming a developed nation in 2047, we look forward to further strengthening our Strategic Partnership with Egypt across all spheres. Together, we can harness our synergies for the benefit of our peoples and contribute meaningfully to global progress.