Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has said India considers Egypt to be a major power in the region and a bridge between Asia and Africa. "India greatly values its civilizational relationship with Egypt. India considers Egypt to be a major power in the region and a bridge between Asia and Africa. India and Egypt have a history of working together for peace and development in the world," said President Mukherjee told his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi who called on him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here yesterday. President Mukherjee said Egypt's participation in the third India Africa Forum Summit will contribute to the deepening of India's ties with Africa. "India is the sixth largest trading partner of Egypt and Egypt's third largest export destination. Indian investments in Egypt have reached $3 billion. These investment flows bring technology, employ almost 35,000 Egyptians and contribute to high export earnings," he added. Congratulating the Government of Egypt for the completion of the new Suez Canal in less than a year, President Mukherjee said the development of new industrial zones around the new Suez Canal provides an opportunity to further strengthen economic ties. He said India wishes to progress its relationship with Egypt on the three pillars- closer political and security cooperation, deeper economic engagement and scientific collaboration as well as wider cultural contacts and people to people exchanges. President Mukherjee described Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's visit to India as a landmark event in the relations between both nations and said that it would provide the foundation for a new era of partnership. Reciprocating President Mukherjee's sentiments, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said his participation in the IAFS was inevitable considering the outstanding relations which bond Africa and India. "India-Egypt relations are historic, long established and continuing. Egypt is committed to further strengthening of the relations. It welcomes Indian investments and would like to benefit from India's expertise, technologies and experience," he said. Source: Ani News
