India’s 79th Independence Day in August 2025 serves not only as a reflection on the nation’s historic struggle for freedom but also as a celebration of its enduring partnerships. India’s ties with Egypt – one of its most important strategic partners is poised to become a forward and future-looking partnership.
Elevation of the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2023 and the shared vision and personal rapport between Prime Minister Modi and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has imparted a new momentum into this special partnership.
India is marching towards becoming the third largest economy in the next one year. Egypt’s Vision 2030 is driving transformation across various sectors of its economy. This has opened doors for closer collaboration in existing areas of engagement including healthcare, agriculture, defence and newer areas such as digital technologies, innovation, startups, green transition, youth development.
High-level political engagement
Regular high-level exchanges between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Sisi have since underscored the strong personal rapport that fuels this bilateral momentum.
Bilateral political engagement remained intense and high-level reflected in the three Ministerial visits from Egypt to India this year. The recent visit of the multi-party high-level Parliamentary delegation from India to Egypt in June 2025 comprising five former ministers saw high-level and productive discussions with the government of Egypt, both Houses of the Parliament, think-tanks and distinguished members of Egyptian society.
Standing together in times of need
This strategic bond has proven its strength in moments of crisis. Following the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, President Sisi personally conveyed his condolences to Prime Minister Modi, standing in solidarity with the victims and condemning the heinous act. Our two countries collaborate closely in counter terrorism and in the recent joint working group discussions held in April 2025 in Cairo, agreed to further enhance co-operation in dealing with use of technology for terrorist purposes and financing of terrorism, including crypto currencies, unmanned aerial systems and misuse of cyber space. Government of Egypt has facilitated India’s Operation Sindhu involving safe evacuation of Indian nationals from Israel through the Taba border amid the escalation of conflict between Israel and Iran.
Economic synergies
The current bilateral trade volume at over $5.2 billion has only touched the surface of what is possible. India wishes to import more fruits and fertilisers from Egypt and India can export more food products, machinery tools and medical equipment to Egypt. Egypt’s rapidly expanding manufacturing capacities open doors for export of intermediate goods from India. Egyptian exporters can benefit from the huge demand driven by India’s large and growing market of 1.4 billion people and an expanding rich middle class.
Indian investments in Egypt are strong and growing with total investments crossing $4 billion creating jobs for 40,000 Egyptians. India’s TCI Sanmar Chemicals in Egypt is one of the largest producers of PVC and Caustic soda in the MENA region. Wholly owned by India’s Sanmar group, TCI Sanmar with an investment of $1.6 billion, is the single largest foreign investment in Egypt. Indian companies in Egypt have become an integral part of Egypt’s manufacturing industry and contribute significantly to Egypt’s exports. Egypt, with its geographic proximity to India’s export markets, offers an excellent location for Indian businesses.
Green technologies and sustainable development has emerged to become an important pillar of our bilateral engagement. India’s Renewable Energy capacity has now reached 242 GW crossing 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources. India can be an important partner to Egypt in achieving its Renewable Energy targets a crucial component of Egypt’s Vision 2030. Indian companies have committed to invest over $12 billion to set up green hydrogen and green ammonia facilities in Egypt.
Digital technologies, innovation and startups
India is leading the world in the adoption of digital technologies for the benefit of its peoples. India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) now facilitates 18 billion digital payment transactions a month. UPI has now surpassed all other payment channels to become the world’s no.1 real-time payment system. Egypt’s Instapay has made huge strides driven by the digital transformation vision of Central Bank of Egypt. We can collaborate on seamless cross-border digital payments and further penetration of digital payments to small merchants and MSMEs. Indian fintech firms are now partnering with Egypt’s banking sector enabling smoother digital transitions and empowering local ecosystems through affordable and scalable solutions.
Innovation and Startups are emerging as key pillars of our ties. India and Egypt both have the benefit of huge demographic dividend with young and talented making up to two thirds of our population. India is home to the world’s third largest startup ecosystem with 200,000 recognised startups. Cairo is ranked as the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the MENA region. Egypt’s focus on startups offers huge scope for collaboration that can allow better market access to our respective startups, forge beneficial partnerships among startups and also access the investment ecosystems in both countries.
Healthcare is another focus sector. India is the pharmacy of the world. Egypt has an expanding local pharmaceutical industry catering to domestic market and to exports. There are numerous avenues for collaboration in specialty drugs, vaccines, localisation of production facilities etc.
Space sector holds great promise for our co-operation. India’s Shubhanshu Shukla spearheading the Axiom 4 Mission to the International Space Station is a culmination of India rapid strides in space sector powered by ISRO’s indigenously developed capacities. There is significant potential for bilateral collaboration with Egypt’s space sector expanding both domestically and in Africa.
Vibrant people to people exchanges
Cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties remain the beating heart of the India–Egypt relationship. Indian cinema, music, cuisine, and yoga enjoy widespread popularity in Egypt. 23,000 Egyptian school children participated in the Glimpses of India painting competition held across various Governorates of Egypt in last October. The Indian diaspora in Egypt comprises of professionals and senior executives leading growing businesses and contributing to the Egypt’s economy and job growth.
Indians continue to be fascinated with the pyramids and the ancient Egyptian civilisation. With 27 million Indian tourists visiting abroad annually, there is huge scope for several more Indians to visit the fascinating tourist destinations in Egypt. Similarly, Egyptian tourists can enjoy the incredible variety of Indian tourist destinations – Taj Mahal or other architectural marvels, adventure travel, wild life or sheer tranquility in the backwaters. Direct flights between Cairo and Mumbai and New Delhi have eased travel and better flight connectivity can drive more tourism exchanges.
A shared global vision
India and Egypt in a rapidly changing world are asserting strategic autonomy, building indigenous capabilities, and advocating a more representative global order. As champions of the Global South, our two countries are aligned on key issues such as climate justice, food and energy security, and equitable digital transformation.
As India commemorates its independence, it does so with pride in its past and purpose in its future. Egypt remains one of India’s most steadfast and forward-looking partners.
Guided by the shared vision of our two leaders and deep commitment to our Strategic Partnership, we are marching steadily to realise the huge potential of this future and foward-looking partnership.
