The proposal was discussed on Monday during a meeting between Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and India’s Minister of Health and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Jagat Prakash Nadda, who is visiting Cairo to attend the third World Conference on Population, Health, and Human Development.
The conference, organized by Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, runs from 9 to 12 November.
A statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Abdelatty emphasized that the planned zone could serve as a regional hub for Indian industries targeting African and Middle Eastern markets. He noted that several Indian firms already operate in Egypt, with total investments of about $4 billion in pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, fertilizers, and textiles.
Abdelatty added that Egypt’s current expansion of domestic fertilizer production aims to bolster food security and support export-oriented partnerships, particularly with India, one of Egypt’s top Asian trading partners.
The two ministers also reviewed the growing trajectory of the Egypt–India strategic partnership, following the first round of the bilateral Strategic Dialogue held in New Delhi last October.
Abdelatty stressed the importance of translating the outcomes of that dialogue into tangible economic projects, particularly in pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, petrochemicals, and food security. Both ministers agreed to activate existing cooperation frameworks and follow up on agreements made during the strategic dialogue. These include holding a joint Egypt–India Business Forum and convening the next session of the Joint Committee in early 2026.
They also discussed launching a Joint Business Chamber to help double bilateral trade over the next five years to $12 billion.
Abdelatty praised India’s participation in the Cairo conference, calling it an opportunity to exchange expertise in healthcare, population management, and pharmaceuticals, and to deepen industrial collaboration within the framework of South–South cooperation and sustainable development.
Egypt and India established diplomatic relations in 1947, laying the foundations for a historic relationship rooted in the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Today, India is one of Egypt’s leading trading partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $7 billion in 2022–2023, a significant increase from previous years. Indian investments in Egypt total around $4 billion, spread across more than 50 companies operating in the pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, fertilizers, textiles, and automotive sectors.
Egyptian exports to India include crude oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizers, and chemicals, while Indian exports to Egypt consist mainly of engineering goods, cotton yarn, and machinery.
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