New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held wide-ranging talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, focusing on ways to enhance bilateral ties in a range of areas, including agriculture, digital domain, culture and trade. The 68-year-old influential Arab leader, who arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit, is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
During this meeting, India and Egypt signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The first MoU was signed between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and the Egyptian Computer Emergency Readiness Team in the area of Cyber Security. The second was a Memorandum of Cooperation in the fields of Information Technology between India and Egypt. Both these MoUs were signed by Ashwini Vaishnaw -- the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, and Dr. Amr Ahmed Samih Talaat -- the Minister of Communications and Information Technology.
The third MoU was signed in the field of Culture between India and Egypt by G. Kishan Reddy -- Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Development of North Eastern Region, and Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The two countries also signed MoU on Cooperation in Youth Matters between India and Egypt involving Anurag Singh Thakur -- Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, and Sameh Hassan Shoukry -- Minister of Foreign Affairs. The fifth MoU signed was for Cooperation on Broadcasting between Prasar Bharati, India, and the National Media Authority of Egypt.
"Deepening our bond with Egypt -- the natural bridge that connects Asia with Africa. PM @narendramodi and President @AlsisiOfficial hold talks adding momentum to the multifaceted India-Egypt relations marked by civilizational, cultural & economic linkages and deep-rooted P2P ties," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
The Egyptian president visited India in October 2015 to participate in the third India-Africa Forum Summit. This was followed by his state visit in September 2016.
This is the first time that the Egyptian president has been invited as the chief guest to India's Republic Day celebrations. A military contingent from the Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade. India is keen to further expand ties with Egypt, a key player in the politics of both the Arab world as well as Africa. It is also seen as a major gateway to markets in Africa and Europe,
