Egypt and India held their first-ever strategic dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday, aiming to boost cooperation across trade, defence, energy, and regional security, as the two nations mark 70 years of diplomatic ties. The high-level talks were led by Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty and India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and come amid growing political and economic alignment between Cairo and New Delhi. The meeting builds on the strategic partnership announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Cairo in June 2023, and reflects efforts by both governments to expand collaboration beyond traditional diplomacy. "The dialogue signals the rapid progress in Egypt-India relations and a shared commitment to advancing strategic cooperation across sectors," said Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. Talks centered on increasing economic and investment cooperation, including opportunities in green industries, renewable energy, and manufacturing. Egypt presented investment incentives available in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), encouraging Indian companies to use Egypt as a production and export hub. Abdel-Atty highlighted Egypt's ongoing economic reforms since 2016, including a flexible exchange rate and improved credit ratings, which he said had strengthened the investment climate. Indian firms have shown rising interest in Egypt's textile and garment sector, and discussions also covered localising production of solar panels, wind turbines, and electrolysers for green hydrogen. The ministers also discussed expanding defence ties, particularly in joint training and defence manufacturing, along with closer cooperation in counterterrorism and intelligence sharing. The two sides exchanged views on key regional and global issues, including prospects for greater South-South cooperation in multilateral forums and the need for reforming global governance structures. Egypt briefed India on its mediation efforts in Gaza, including its role in brokering a ceasefire and hosting the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit. Abdel-Atty welcomed India's participation and stressed the urgency of accelerating reconstruction and ensuring the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid. He reiterated Egypt's call for a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state based on the 4 June1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. Talks also covered developments in Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Lebanon, with Egypt reaffirming its commitment to regional peace and security. India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar praised Egypt's "active and stabilising role" in the Middle East and expressed support for its economic vision and diplomatic leadership. Both ministers agreed the current multilateral system is failing, pointing to the paralysis of the UN Security Council and its inability to respond to crises like Gaza and Sudan. "Global institutions are no longer functioning as intended," the ministers said in a joint understanding. "Structural reforms are essential to restore credibility, accountability, and effectiveness." Abdel Atty also congratulated India on its upcoming 2026 BRICS presidency, expressing full Egyptian support and calling for deeper economic and financial integration among member states. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
