India-Egypt Relations: Opportunities and Challenges - Current Affairs

 1-When did the Indian Prime Minister visit Egypt and what was the purpose of the visit?

1. Answer: The Indian Prime Minister recently visited Egypt for the first time since 1997 to discuss bilateral relations between India and Egypt.

2. 2-What is the significance of the strategic partnership agreement signed between India and Egypt? Answer: The strategic partnership agreement signed between India and Egypt marks a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. It encompasses political, defense and security, economic engagement, scientific and academic collaboration, as well as cultural and people-to-people contact.

3. 3-Which fields saw enhanced cooperation through the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between India and Egypt? Answer: The MoUs signed between India and Egypt aim to enhance cooperation in the fields of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law.

4. 4-What were the topics discussed during the bilateral discussions between the Indian Prime Minister and Egypt's President? Answer: The bilateral discussions between the Indian Prime Minister and Egypt's President covered various topics, including multilateral cooperation at the G-20, food and energy security, climate change, and clean energy collaboration.

5. 5-What is the significance of the India Unit in the Egyptian Cabinet? Answer: The Indian Prime Minister met with the India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted by the Egyptian President, to enhance India-Egypt relations.

6. 6-Which historical figures shared a common goal of independence from British colonial rule in India and Egypt? Answer: Mahatma Gandhi and the Egyptian revolutionary Saad Zaghloul shared a common goal of independence from British colonial rule.

7. 7-What is the current status of bilateral trade between India and Egypt? Answer: India's trade with Egypt stood at USD 6,061 million in 2022-23, with petroleum-related trade accounting for nearly a third of it. India was Egypt's sixth largest trading partner, while Egypt was India's 38th largest in the same period.

8. 8-What areas of defense cooperation exist between India and Egypt? Answer: The two countries have collaborated on the development of fighter aircraft, and both the Indian Air Force and the Egyptian air force fly the French Rafale fighter jets. They have also signed a pact to participate in joint exercises and cooperate in training.

9. 9-How is cultural cooperation promoted between India and Egypt? Answer: The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) was established in Cairo in 1992 to promote cultural cooperation between India and Egypt.

10. 10-What are the opportunities for India in strengthening its relations with Egypt? Answer: India sees opportunities in combatting religious extremism, leveraging Egypt's strategic location with the Suez Canal, attracting Indian investments in Egyptian infrastructure projects, capitalizing on similar socio-economic conditions, and participating in Egypt's infrastructure development.

11. 11-What are the challenges India may face in its relations with Egypt? Answer: The challenges include the economic crisis in Egypt, abysmal debt and forex situation, and China's growing influence in Egypt, which may have implications for India's regional interests and security.

12. 12-How can India move forward in its relations with Egypt? Answer: India needs to carefully balance its exposure to Egypt, consider manageable eco-political risks, explore innovative financing mechanisms, and potentially engage in trilateral funding arrangements with its partners in the Gulf, G-20, or multilateral financial institutions.

13. 13-What is the historical background of India-Egypt relations? Answer: The history of contact between India and Egypt can be traced back to at least the time of Emperor Ashoka. In modern times, Mahatma Gandhi and the Egyptian revolutionary Saad Zaghloul shared a common goal of independence from British colonial rule. The joint announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level was made on 18th August 1947.