India and Egypt today agreed to enhance bilateral energy and defence ties and vowed to provide better climate and opportunities for promotion of investments.
They also agreed to to achieve a bilateral trade target of US 8 billion by March 2016 from USD 5 billion at present, said a joint statement issued after Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's visit from March 18-20.
Morsi called on President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Mohammed Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had called on him. Mukherjee had also hosted a banquet in honour of the Egyptian Presdient.
Morsi had also held extrensive bilateral talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Prime Minister offered all support in the democratic transition process in Egypt and expressed satisfaction with regard to the growing interaction between the Election Commission of India and its counterpart in Egypt.
Morsi came to power after Egypt's first democratic elections last year that were held after the 30-year-old iron-clasp rule of former strongman Hosni Mubarak came to an end in February 2011, following a series of anti-regime protests, known as Arab Spring.
"The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the evolution of bilateral relations in recent years and directed that exchanges and consultations should be further intensified in order to realise the full potential of the relationship," the joint statement said.
The two sides discussed bilateral defence ties and measures to enhance cooperation, including through the forthcoming Joint Defence Committee meeting scheduled to take place in Delhi in April, it said.
