New Delhi: Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi arrives here today on a three-day visit, after a short stopover in Islamabad, to boost bilateral ties with India, especially in trade.
Mursi is arriving at the head of a high-level delegation of ministers and business leaders. The ministers in the entourage include the ministers of communications and information
technology, trade and commerce, and investment.
The visit comes at a time when trade between India and Egypt has witnessed a record 30 percent jump. Egypt has also requested India to set up a centre of excellence in IT at the famed Al Azhar University in Cairo. It is also seeking India’s help in launching a nano satellite.
Economic engagement between the two sides has been growing despite the political tumult in Egypt.
Bilateral trade has notched up a “record increase” of 30 percent to $4.5bn from $3.2bn earlier. Calculated in the Indian fiscal year terms, it works out to $5.2bn, said an official.
Around 50 Indian companies, including Aditya Birla, Kirloskar and Dabur, have a presence in Egypt. Indian investment in Egypt is $2.5bn, and it is also the seventh largest trading partner of Egypt.
Mursi is slated to hold delegation level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow. Vice President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj are to call on Mursi. President Pranab Mukherjee will host a banquet in his honour.
Both countries are keen to further deepen and diversify the growing bilateral engagement during the president’s visit.
During his short visit to Pakistan, Mursi is expected to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, and other prominent politicians and parties in Islamabad.
Mursi is likely to sign several agreements with Zardari during his one-day visit.
“President Mursi’s decision to choose Pakistan as the first south Asian country for a bilateral visit manifests Egypt’s desire to add a new chapter to its bilateral ties with Pakistan,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. IANS
