Strengthening Economic Ties: Egypt’s Vision for Trade with India

Egypt’s Minister El Khatib emphasizes the need to enhance trade with India, aspiring for significant increases rather than minimal growth. He identified food and energy security as key collaboration sectors, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities present within Africa’s trade framework. His insights reflect a broader commitment to boosting competitiveness amidst a changing global landscape.

Egypt’s Minister for Investment and Trade, El Khatib, recently asserted that trade between India and Egypt is underwhelming compared to its latent potential. In an interview with Mihir Swarup Sharma at the 2025 Raisina Dialogue, El Khatib highlighted the importance of significantly increasing the trade volume between the two nations rather than settling for modest increments. He emphasized that trade and investment form the foundational aspects of robust economies.

El Khatib, who has previously visited India, remarked on the cultural affinity between the two nations, noting that he felt at home during his visit. He reiterated the necessity to engage in discussions that aim to triplet or quadruplet their current trade volume, rather than merely increasing it by small percentages, underscoring trade and investment as vital economic lifelines.

He pointed out that food and energy security could serve as primary sectors for collaboration between India and Egypt. El Khatib described Egypt’s ambitions to emerge as a green energy hub, with plans to add 65 GW of energy capacity by 2040, predominantly from renewable sources. He emphasized the potential of green hydrogen once industry pricing challenges are mitigated, stressing the need for agility in adapting to global events and technological disruptions.

When discussing Egypt’s navigation through the current international landscape, El Khatib remarked on the ebbing nature of globalization, asserting that nationalism and protectionism are re-emerging trends. He expressed the Egyptian government’s commitment to enhancing competitiveness within its challenging regional context, focusing on creating a supportive business environment to foster foreign direct investment (FDI).

El Khatib reflected on Egypt’s post-revolutionary efforts to reinvigorate its economy through infrastructural advancements, such as extensive road networks and renewable energy projects. He maintained an optimistic perspective regarding Africa, advocating active participation in trade agreements that enable access to numerous international markets, while also acknowledging existing challenges in logistics and transportation.

He emphasized the necessity of a balanced trade approach with Africa, wherein nations understand their import needs and encourage industrial development within the continent instead of solely relying on raw material exports, promoting a more sustainable economic framework.

The dialogue between Egypt and India underscores significant opportunities for enhanced collaboration, particularly in trade, food security, and energy sectors. El Khatib’s insights reveal a commitment from Egypt to increase its global competitiveness, adapt to changing geopolitical dynamics, and foster stronger ties with India, potentially leading to substantial economic benefits for both nations. Additionally, a balanced trade approach in Africa can ignite further growth and development within the continent.

Original Source: www.firstpost.com