Egypt and India agreed on Wednesday during a visit by the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to India, to boost security cooperation between their countries to confront terrorism and violence.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Sisi in New Delhi to participate in celebrations marking “Republic Day,” the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950.
The talks between Sisi and Modi addressed the repercussions of the global crisis, the bilateral relations, and the regional and international developments.
Sisi said that strengthening defense cooperation was on the agenda, noting that joint efforts lead to a strategic relationship between the two countries.
“We affirmed our interest to continue coordination, joint exercises, and exchange of experiences, and to explore broader horizons to foster closer cooperation in that field, including co-manufacturing,” he said.
According to the Egyptian presidency spokesperson, Bassam Rady, the talks addressed ways to boost bilateral ties at various levels and developments in regional and international issues of common concern.
The Indian prime minister lauded Egypt’s positive role in efforts to politically settle the ongoing crises in its regional milieu.
He also praised Cairo's efforts to combat terrorism and extremist ideology, while reinforcing freedom of choice and tolerance.
Modi said his country looked forward to enhancing mutual investments in several sectors and maximizing trade through the participation of Indian companies in implementing mega national projects in Egypt.
Sisi welcomed the cooperation with India, given the two countries’ huge potential that provide diverse promising opportunities, particularly at the military, economic, trade, tourism, and cultural levels.
He also referred to cooperation in communications and IT sectors, and in production of medicines and vaccines.
During a joint press conference with Modi, the Egyptian President said the talks addressed the countries’ relations in trade and investment.
“We confirmed our joint interest to continue to work toward increasing trade exchange and maximizing the mutual benefit of our countries’ production and exporting capacities and advantages to respond to the economic and social priorities of the Egyptian and Indian peoples,” Sisi said.
Sisi invited Indian businesses to invest more in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
The two leaders agreed on stepping up the strategic cooperation in many areas, primarily agriculture, higher education, chemicals, fertilizers and medicines industries, IT and communications, and cyber security.
Sisi described his talks with Modi as “fruitful,” noting that they addressed the most critical issues of common concern at the regional and international levels.
The talks tackled the ways to combat terrorism and confront extremist ideology, said Sisi, adding that cooperation would help eliminate violence.
During his visit, Sisi met the Indian President, Droupadi Murmu, and later visited and laid a wreath on the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in New Delhi.
On Wednesday, the Egyptian President participated in an expanded meeting with the CEOs of major Indian companies and businessmen.
He affirmed his country’s keenness to develop further economic and trade cooperation with Indian companies, as well as joint investments to support Egypt's economic development process.
