Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is the Chief Guest on India’s 74th Republic Day today as a military contingent from Egyptian Army also participates in the parade for the first time further strengthening and deepening the time-tested partnership between both countries.

Sisi previously visited India in October 2015 to participate in the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit and in September 2016 on a State Visit.

This is for the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on Republic Day as both countries celebrate 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Egypt has also been invited as a ‘Guest Country’ during India’s Presidency of G-20 in 2022-23.

Marching down the Kartavya Path for the first time will be the combined Band and Marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces, led by Colonel Mahmoud Mohamed Abdel Fattah El Kharasawy. The contingent will consist of 144 soldiers, representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces.

“President Sisi’s visit as the Chief Guest on our Republic Day signifies these special and unique bonds of relationship, civilization linkages, and shared struggle for freedom that India and Egypt have nurtured over the years,” said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

Sisi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday, following which he held a bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Discussions were held on a whole range of bilateral issues, including political, security elements, trade, investment, technology and other elements of economic partnership and people-to-people ties. One of the key highlights of Wednesday’s interactions between the two leaders and the outcome of their discussions was the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership comprising essentially of four key pillars.

Later in the evening, President Droupadi Murmu hosted a State Banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary.

Bilateral trade between India and Egypt achieved a record high of USD 7.26 billion in FY 2021-22. The trade was fairly balanced, with USD 3.74 billion in Indian exports to Egypt and USD 3.52 billion in imports from Egypt to India. More than 50 Indian companies have invested around USD 3.15 billion in diverse sectors of the Egyptian economy, including chemicals, energy, textile, garment, agri-business, retail, etc.

Also Read: India and Egypt ink strategic partnership — defence, counter-terrorism key areas in focus