{"id":33024,"date":"2023-01-25T03:38:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T22:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=33024"},"modified":"2025-04-19T18:01:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-19T12:31:57","slug":"state-visit-of-president-of-egypt-to-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/state-visit-of-president-of-egypt-to-india\/","title":{"rendered":"State Visit of President of Egypt to India"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>What\u2019s in today\u2019s article?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Why in news?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>India \u2013 Egypt Bilateral Relation<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>What is the level of Trade relation between India and Egypt?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>What is the level of Defence cooperation between India and Egypty?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>How was the Cooperation between India and Egypt during Covid-19 &amp; Russia \u2013 Ukraine war?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>News Summary: State Visit of President of Egypt to India<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>What is the significance of the Republic Day invite?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Why Egypt has been chosen this year?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why in news?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is on a State visit to India from 24-26 January 2023.<\/li>\n<li>President Sisi, who is on his second State Visit to India, will also be the Chief Guest on India\u2019s 74th Republic Day.\n<ul>\n<li>This is for the <strong>first time<\/strong> that President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on our Republic Day.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>A military contingent from Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>India \u2013 Egypt Bilateral Relation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>India and Egypt enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>India and Egypt are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Egypt has also been invited as a \u2018Guest Country\u2019 during India\u2019s Presidency of G-20 in 2022-23.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is the level of Trade relation between India and Egypt?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Bilateral trade between India and Egypt achieved a record high of <u>USD 7.26 billion in FY 2021-22<\/u>.\u00a0\n<ul>\n<li>The trade was fairly balanced, with USD 3.74 billion Indian exports to Egypt and USD 3.52 billion imports from Egypt to India.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>More than 50 Indian companies have invested around USD 3.15 billion in diverse sectors of Egyptian economy, including chemicals, energy, textile, garment, agri-business, retail, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is the level of Defence cooperation between India and Egypty?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Desert Warrior<\/strong> exercise was conducted as the first-ever joint tactical exercise by the air force of the two countries.<\/li>\n<li>The more recent exercise between the special forces is another indication of the growing willingness to work together.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The Egyptians have also shown some interest in India\u2019s Tejas fighter jets and Dhruv light attack helicopters.<\/li>\n<li>A military contingent from the Egyptian Army will participate in this year\u2019s Republic Day parade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>How was the Cooperation between India and Egypt during Covid-19 &amp; Russia \u2013 Ukraine war?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>When India was hit hard by the second wave of COVID-19, Egypt responded by dispatching three plane loads of medical supplies and providing 300,000 doses of Remdesivir in May 2021.<\/li>\n<li>India reciprocated a year later when Egypt, the world\u2019s largest importer of wheat, was facing a dire situation following the abrupt halt in wheat shipments from Ukraine following the war.\n<ul>\n<li>In May last year, India \u2014 which had put a ban on sale of wheat \u2014 allowed export of 61,000 tonnes to Egypt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>News Summary: State Visit of President of Egypt to India<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Egypt\u2019s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations this year, reached India.<\/li>\n<li>During the visit, both sides will sign several MoUs and discuss taking ties forward on strategic issues, defence, trade, agriculture and renewable energy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is the significance of the Republic Day invite?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>An invitation to be the Republic Day chief guest is highly symbolic from the Indian government\u2019s perspective.<\/li>\n<li>The choice of chief guest every year is dictated by a number of reasons \u2014 strategic and diplomatic, business interests, and international geo-politics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why Egypt has been chosen this year?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Push to engage the Global South<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The invitation to Mr. Sisi is also being seen as part of the government\u2019s push to engage the Global South.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Rekindling of the principles of non-alignment<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>This invitation is also seen as an attempt to rekindle the principles of non-alignment that have come back to the fore during Russia \u2013 Ukraine war.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Strategic weight of Egypt<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>With a population of almost 110 million, Egypt is situated at a location that straddles Africa and Asia.<\/li>\n<li>It has a standing army that is the largest in the region, a capital that hosts the League of Arab States and a diplomatic presence that punches above its weight in global affairs.<\/li>\n<li>India is keen on further expanding its ties with Egypt, <strong>a key player in the politics of both the Arab world as well as Africa<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Economic importance of Egypt<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Egypt has boosted its attractiveness through a series of free trade agreements that span Africa (ACFTA; AGADIR; COMESA), Europe (EFTA), Latin America (MERCOSUR) and the Arab world (GAFTA).<\/li>\n<li>It is also seen as a major gateway to markets in Africa and Europe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Egypt\u2019s plans to develop the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE)\u00a0 into a global manufacturing hub<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The ambitious plans to develop the Suez Canal Economic Zone into a global manufacturing hub are now gathering critical mass.<\/li>\n<li>SCZONE sits astride both banks of the Suez Canal, a strategic waterway that connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea to provide the shortest link between European and Asian markets.\n<ul>\n<li>Almost, 20 percent of global container trade takes place through this canal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>China, as usual, has been the first to take advantage of the opportunities presented by SCZONE.\n<ul>\n<li>China views SCZONE as a vital part of its Belt and Road and Maritime Silk Road projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>A deeper economic engagement with Egypt therefore acquires an additional strategic imperative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Resetting India\u2019s ties with Muslim-majority countries<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>India\u2019s ties with Muslim-majority countries were tested following controversial remarks made by then spokesperson of ruling party in June 2022.<\/li>\n<li>That Egypt was one of the few countries from the Arab world which did not react officially to the controversial remarks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>There are clear indications that India and Egypt may finally be moving towards achieving some of the potential in bilateral ties that has remained unfulfilled for the last four decades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Q1)<\/strong><strong>What is Suez canal?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.\u00a0The canal is operated and maintained by the state-owned Suez Canal Authority (SCA) of Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Q2)\u00a0What are some of the deserts in Africa?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00a0Africa &#8211; the second largest continent in the world is also home to the largest desert in the world &#8211; the Sahara. Other deserts include Kalahari Desert, Karoo Desert, Danakil Desert, Chalbi Desert, Namib Desert, and Guban Desert.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Source:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/sisi-to-meet-modi-murmu-today-six-agreements-being-finalised-8402752\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>Egypt President Sisi to meet PM Modi, President Murmu today; six agreements being finalised<\/u><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mea.gov.in\/incoming-visit-detail.htm?36139\/State+Visit+of+President+of+Egypt+to+India+January+2426+2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>Ministry of External Affairs<\/u><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orfonline.org\/expert-speak\/rekindling-old-ties-sisis-visit-to-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>ORF<\/u><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/in-president-sisi-visit-india-and-egypt-look-to-rekindle-non-aligned-era-ties\/article66429192.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>The Hindu<\/u><\/a>\u00a0|<a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/india\/egyptian-presidents-visit-expected-to-strengthen-time-tested-ties-mea\/articleshow\/97196539.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>Times Of India<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India and Egypt enjoy friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":33025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-33024","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}