Press Release No. 75
November 20, 2006
The 6th session of the India-Egypt Foreign Office Consultations was held in Cairo on 19 November 2006. The Indian delegation to the talks was led by H. E. Mr. N. Ravi, Vice Minister in the Ministry of External Affairs of India. The Egyptian delegation was led by H. E. Mr. Ali Hossam El Din Al Hefny, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.
H. E. Mr. N. Ravi noted that India and Egypt shared similar views on international issues and the approaches of the two sides were characterized by mutual understanding and respect for each other’s positions. Both sides underlined the priority assigned to the India-Egypt relationship, in the bilateral context as well as in multilateral fora. Views were exchanged on regional and international issues of common interest.
The leaders of the two delegations recalled the historic and traditionally friendly ties between India and Egypt and reaffirmed the priority assigned to the further strengthening of the bilateral relationship. Welcoming the increase in bilateral trade and investment, both sides agreed that necessary assistance should be extended at the official level to Indian and Egyptian businessmen and investors to sustain this positive trend. It was decided that cooperation in the SME’s (small and medium enterprises) sector would be promoted in particular through joint collaborative projects and sharing of experience. Bilateral trade between India and Egypt has increased from USD 446.87 million in 2000-01 to USD 1.2 billion in 2005-06. Indian investments in Egypt, which are from the Indian private sector, exceed USD 400 million and several Indian companies are actively evaluating further investment opportunities in Egypt.
The Foreign Office Consultations also reviewed bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, science and technology, and culture. It was agreed that, as before, these areas of cooperation would continue to receive due importance. The strengthening of cooperation in the IT sector and tourism and sharing of experience and expertise in administrative development and reforms was also empahsised.
During his visit, Mr. N. Ravi called on H .E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and conveyed the invitation extended to him to pay an official visit to India by the External Affairs Minister of India, H. E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. Mr. Ravi stated that the Indian side was looking forward to welcoming the Egyptian Foreign Minister next month and to the scheduling of the India-Egypt Inter-governmental Commission, which is co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers.
A meeting also took place on 19th November between Mr. N. Ravi and Presidential spokesperson H.E. Mr. Soliman Awad.
Prior to his departure for India on 20th November, Mr. N. Ravi was received by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, H. E. Mr. Amre Moussa. The Arab League Secretary General briefed Mr. Ravi about the situation in the Middle East and Northern Africa. It was agreed that regular consultations would continue between the Indian side and the League of Arab States on these issues and other subjects of mutual interest.
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