New Delhi, June 24 : Concluding his first-ever state visit to the United States on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Egypt for a two-day visit to the Arab nation.
Expressing his gratitude on Twitter, Prime Minister Modi stated, “Concluding a very special USA visit, where I got to take part in numerous programs and interactions aimed at adding momentum to the India-USA friendship. Our nations will keep working together to make our planet a better place for the coming generations.”
During his US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in various events, met with top Indian and American CEOs, and received a warm ceremonial welcome at the White House.
He was hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for a state dinner, as well as by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Vice President Kamala Harris for a state luncheon.
Prior to departing for Egypt, PM Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC, describing the meeting as a delightful experience.
Upon arrival in Egypt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage in various meetings with leaders and interact with the Indian diaspora.
During his first-ever visit to Egypt, PM Modi will spend around half an hour at the Al-Hakim Mosque, a historic and significant mosque in Cairo. He will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives while fighting for Egypt during World War I.
This visit holds great significance as it comes at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who extended the invitation in January 2023 when he was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations.
India and Egypt share a long history of contact and cooperation, with close political ties and robust bilateral trade. Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s important trading partners in Africa, and the bilateral trade agreement between the two countries has been in operation since March 1978.
In the period from April 2022 to December 2022, India ranked as Egypt’s fifth largest trading partner. India was the 11th largest importer of Egyptian goods and the fifth largest exporter to Egypt during the same period.
