Egypt's Leader Sets to Touch Down in Delhi Today for Republic Day Celebration, Discussions
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is set to visit India on Wednesday, with the main purpose of discussing ways to enhance financial relations between the two countries and attract Indian investment. During his visit, al-Sisi will be the guest of honor at the Republic Day ceremony in India.
The visit comes as Egypt continues to grapple with the effects of a dollar shortage, which led to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound in 2016. This issue is expected to be a key topic of discussion during al-Sisi's meetings in India. Egypt sought assistance from energy-rich Gulf allies and the International Monetary Fund in 2014 due to financial challenges intensified by the battle in Ukraine. The financial challenges Egypt faced in 2014 are still relevant today.
Egypt's efforts to attract foreign investment are not limited to its current visit to India. The country has been attempting to establish political and professional ties beyond its traditional partnerships with the United States and European powers. Egypt's efforts to build ties extend to sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
Egypt is actively pursuing enhanced financial and investment ties with India through high-level meetings, targeted incentives, and dialogue platforms aimed at boosting Indian investments across multiple strategic sectors. In July 2025, Egypt’s Minister of Public Enterprises Sector, Mohamed El-Shimy, met with India’s ambassador to Egypt, Suresh Reddy, to discuss expanding industrial cooperation, focusing on pharmaceuticals, textiles, garments, fertilizers, chemicals, aluminum, vehicles, mining, and hospitality. During this meeting, El-Shimy highlighted Egypt's wide range of investor incentives and invited Indian investors to explore direct investment opportunities in Egyptian public enterprises.
The India Business Forum (IBF), supported by the Indian Embassy in Cairo and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), serves as a key platform facilitating Indian businesses in Egypt to engage with Egyptian authorities and each other. The IBF meeting held in October 2024 stressed the significance of Indian investments amounting to approximately US$4 billion in sectors including textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT, and chemicals. The Egyptian government showcased a tax incentive package designed to attract foreign investment, especially from India, featuring streamlined permits, tax reductions, and infrastructure support. Discussions at the forum aimed at improving investment processes and addressing challenges signal committed efforts on both sides to deepen economic engagement.
These steps are part of Egypt’s broader strategic agenda to strengthen foreign direct investment and economic partnerships as outlined in its Vision 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy. The visit to India also aims to evaluate opportunities for Indian investment in Egypt. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit includes meetings with business leaders, further emphasizing the economic focus of the trip.
In summary, Egypt’s current efforts to attract Indian investment involve diplomatic engagement, showcasing incentives, and leveraging multilateral business forums that emphasize cooperation in pharmaceuticals, industrial sectors, and services, supported by government-backed fiscal facilitation schemes aimed at strengthening bilateral financial relations. The visit to India is part of Egypt's ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment and deepen economic engagement with key partners around the world.
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- Egypt is focusing on enhancing its business relations with India, particularly in the sectors of pharmaceuticals, textiles, IT, and chemicals, as part of its strategy to attract foreign investment, a key aspect of its Vision 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy.
- The ongoing economic collaboration between Egypt and India is not limited to the president's visit; discussions and meetings involving business leaders, such as the one between Egypt's Minister of Public Enterprises Sector, Mohamed El-Shimy, and India’s ambassador to Egypt, Suresh Reddy, have aimed to streamline permits, offer tax reductions, and provide infrastructure support, making India an attractive investment destination for Egypt.
