This comes as both countries seek to enhance their regional and international roles and promote joint cooperation. As part of India's celebration of its Independence Day, Suresh Reddy, the Indian ambassador to Egypt, emphasized the depth of these relations in a special interview with Al-Ahram online
Ahram Online: Given your extensive experience in multilateral economic relations, how do you plan to leverage this background to enhance the strategic partnership between India and Egypt, especially in the context of current global economic initiatives and the expansion of blocs like BRICS?
Suresh Reddy: India was happy to support Egypt’s membership of BRICS. India deeply values Egypt’s important role in the global community and believes that Egypt’s membership would bring great value to the BRICS platform.
I believe that strong trade and investment linkages between India and Egypt are not just significant from a bilateral point of view but are vital to the region and production networks.
India’s manufacturing industry has rapidly expanded in the past few years. India’s high-quality goods and services are powering world economies with total exports of goods and total trade crossing US$1.7 trillion in 2024-25.
India-Egypt Strategic Partnership can both aid and benefit from the interlinked global economy. Egypt acts as an important and strategic gateway for Indian businesses to their export markets in Europe, the USA and Africa.
AO: Having spent your early years in Cairo and now returning as ambassador, what are the most significant changes you've observed in Egypt, and how will your historical perspective of Cairo influence your approach to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in areas beyond traditional diplomacy?
SR: There is a lot that has changed, and there is a lot that has not. Egypt still has the charm as the Um al-Dunya and remains a hub for cultural, intellectual, and civilizational heritage. Egyptians are as warm and hospitable as ever. Their passion for India, Indian culture, cuisine and cinema is as strong as ever.
The dynamism of the government policies and vision is reflected in the significant transformation visible in Egypt in its rapidly expanding infrastructure, economic opportunities and ease of doing business.
Another critical change I see is the rise in Egypt’s middle class - an important indicator of economic progress.
Focused efforts by the Government are increasing the attractiveness of Egypt as an investment and manufacturing destination - evident in the large and growing number of Indian companies coming to Egypt.
AO: What key challenges and promising opportunities do you anticipate in deepening the strategic partnership between India and Egypt, and what are your specific priorities for addressing these challenges and capitalizing on opportunities during your tenure?
SR: Our two leaders, Prime Minister Modi and President El-Sisi, signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2023, which gave a significant boost and vision to our bilateral ties. Their regular exchanges and personal rapport keep the momentum high in our ties.
The Strategic Partnership between India and Egypt is uniquely poised to evolve into a futuristic and forward-looking partnership, marked by growing collaboration in newer areas of engagement, including digital technologies, innovation, and startups, as well as renewable energy.
Our economic ties are strengthening with more than 55 Indian companies having invested over $4.5 billion in Egypt, creating over 45000 local jobs. Indian businesses have now become an integral part of Egypt’s economy and its growth journey. In fact, India’s TCI Sanmar Chemicals, a global leader and the largest PVC manufacturer in the MENA region, is the single largest foreign investor in Egypt in the manufacturing sector.
Digital technologies and innovation are areas with huge scope for collaboration. Egypt’s Vision 2030 and its priorities for Digital Egypt align closely with India’s competencies and achievements in this area. India’s Unified Payment Interface now powers 18 billion transactions every month, and I believe there is potential for Instaypay and UPI to build strong partnerships.
India’s startup ecosystem is the third largest in the world, with 200,000 recognized startups. Egypt is the third-largest startup ecosystem in Africa. With the Government of Egypt's emphasis on startups, we can collaborate closely with Egyptian startups to access Indian markets, the investment ecosystem, and forge complementary partnerships with Indian startups.
Investment commitments of US$12 billion by two Indian companies in the field of renewable energy are reflective of Egypt’s priorities for green energy transition and India’s capabilities and competencies in this field.
Our tourism exchanges have huge potential. Every year, 27 million Indian tourists venture abroad and are some of the highest-spending foreign tourists. I would like to see many more Indian tourists explore Egypt, and a lot more Egyptians visit fascinating destinations in India.
AO: Both India and Egypt share several significant demographic similarities, most notably high population density and a predominantly young demographic. Considering these shared challenges and opportunities, what specific initiatives do you plan to focus on to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas such as youth development, job creation, resource management, and the exchange of expertise to address demographic pressures, and how can these efforts contribute to deepening the strategic partnership between our two nations?
SR: Egypt, with around 60 percent of the population below 30 years, and India, with around 65 per cent of the population below 35 years, our two nations have a great responsibility and opportunity at the same time.
India has used technology as an accelerator of socio-economic transformation. The government’s policies supporting innovation and entrepreneurship have created a new generation of entrepreneurs in India. India’s emergence as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem is an outcome of the government’s policy support and the young and bright talent.
We are working closely with Egypt’s Ministry of Youth & Sports to facilitate closer and productive exchanges through visits of youth delegations, exchange of experiences, and forging beneficial collaborations.
We also have various existing bilateral mechanisms focusing on skill development, training and capacity building in industry-ready technologies.
The Centre of Excellence in IT set up in Al-Azhar University by India’s CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) has trained over 1,700 Egyptian professionals in digital technologies.
Under the MoU between India’s National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELT) and the Information Technology Institute (ITI) of Egypt, India has been offering short-term training courses in areas of digital forensics and chip design for Egyptian Youth.
Through India’s ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) programme, premier Indian institutes offer fully-funded short-term courses to Egyptian nationals every year. So far, over 1500 Egyptians have benefited from this programme.
AO: As India celebrates its Independence Day, underscoring its journey towards self-reliance and its growing role as a voice for the Global South, how does this spirit influence India's cooperation with Egypt on regional and international issues, particularly in advocating for a more equitable and multipolar world order?
SR: India, during its G20 Presidency in 2023, has ensured that the Voice of the Global South formed an integral part of the G20 deliberations and outcomes. India had also championed the inclusion of the African Union as a member of the G20. India believes in faster rebalancing, more multipolarity and reformed multilateralism. It is imperative that the key global conversations reflect the concerns and challenges of the Global South.
India believes that a democratic and equitable world can only be built on greater diversification and localization of capabilities. We want a new globalization paradigm which will be for the collective well-being of humankind, with a critical focus on vulnerable populations.
Egypt, as India’s important partner in the Global South, shares these aspirations. Both our countries want economic opportunities for our people, food and energy security and equitable development. These aspirations are articulated both in our bilateral partnerships and also multilateral contexts.
AO: Considering the current complexities in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza, what is India's comprehensive vision for stability and peace in the region? How does India, in coordination with partners like Egypt, believe a lasting resolution can be achieved, and what role can both nations play in humanitarian efforts and post-conflict reconstruction?
SR: India appreciates the leadership and the key mediation role of Egypt in the regional conflicts, and particularly the Gaza Conflict. We believe that the end to this conflict is only through dialogue and diplomacy.
It must be reiterated that India has been steadfast in its support for the people of Palestine and has recognized the State of Palestine as early as 1988. India has always advocated for a two-state solution towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine, living side by side, in peace with Israel.
India has actively supported the humanitarian efforts to assist Palestine for decades. These efforts continued after the beginning of the conflict in October 2023. India’s development assistance to Palestine through various initiatives and projects. India has sent 70 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza and has so far contributed US$50 million to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency).
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