CAIRO: “Our relationship is much broader than meat,” said R. Swaminathan, ambassador of India to Egypt in a conference Monday. The conference was held to commemorate the 63rd Indian Independence Day that falls on Aug. 15. Concerns regarding the safety of imported Indian meat have surfaced in the Egyptian media after Hisham Gad, deputy editor of Al-Ahrar newspaper, appeared on a talk show warning the public about the leak of infected meat into the market. Swaminathan stressed that India has a reputation to keep, by ensuring the best quality of their products at a competitive price. “India exports meat not only to Egypt but to 65 other countries,” he said. He added that a delegation of Egyptian journalists was invited to India to go into the meat factories and see the quality control measures for themselves. “I can say things ... [but] I suppose it is important that you go and see and write what you see,” he said. Swaminathan spoke about the historic relationship between Egypt and India, announcing a visit on September by Indian Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna for a “joint crucial meeting” with Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and another visit to Egypt by the head of the Indian Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament). Speaking about the economic relationship between Egypt and India, Swaminathan said that the Indian investment in Egypt reached $3. He announced the opening of an Indian factory in Port Said that manufactures Poly (vinyl chloride), an intermediate agent in manufacturing tubes and tanks. In review of the Indian accomplishments the past year, Swaminathan said that India sustained an achievement in producing a laptop prototype similar to the iPad at the cost of $35. The laptop targets students and is expected to go into mass production by next year. Cultural activities are also on the horizon. An Indian modern music band and four Indian dance troops are to come to Egypt to participate in Indian Days Festival during the last week of September. Indian Days will also include painting exhibitions and Indian film screenings. The festival will also extend to Alexandria, Beni Suef and Port Said. “Our intention is to try to campaign not only in one place, but to take it to the provinces of Egypt,” said the Indian ambassador. An Indian-Arab cultural week is also planned during the first quarter of the coming year in agreement with the Arab League. It is supposed to take place in a different Arab country every year, and Egypt was chosen this year for the India-Arab Festival.
