President of Egypt calls on the President HE Mr. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt called on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee yesterday (October 28, 2015) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Welcoming Mr. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to India, the President said participation of Egypt in the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit will contribute to the deepening of India's ties with 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. 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. The President congratulated the Government of Egypt for the completion of the new Suez Canal in less than a year. He said the development of new industrial zones around the new Suez Canal provides an opportunity to further strengthen economic ties. The President 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. He described Mr. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's visit to India as a landmark event in India-Egypt relations and said this visit will provide the foundation for a new era of partnership between the two countries. Reciprocating the President's sentiments, the Egyptian President 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.
