Al Ahram, P.5 (14-11-2008) 

The Opinion of Al Ahram

The timing and significance of the visit of President Mubarak to India 
 

The 4-day visit to be paid by President Mubarak to India starting from Sunday is, by all accounts, a historical visit. History records that the visits exchanged between the leaders of the two countries since the 1950s have greatly contributed to the promotion of bilateral relations, which have reached  a special status. The realities in today’s world necessitate that a new impetus should be given in order to push forward and expand these relations.

India, which the President is visiting, has managed to recover from all its past economic and social crises and has become an emerging power that would play a role in shaping the political, economic and technological features of the world in the new century.

The President’s visit to India comes at a time, when Egypt has started its march towards reform, development and political and economic modernization. Egypt today is looking for exploring new markets, attracting huge investments and getting the experience of the others to go smoothly ahead on its path of economic growth that it has started years ago.Although exchange of visits between the officials of the two countries did not stop over the past few years (about 15 ministerial visits since the end of 2006), the imminent visit of the President represents a qualitative shift in the relations between the to countries in view of the high regard and esteem that the government and people of India have for Egypt and its President.

Reviewing the agenda of the visit, one can find that priority is given to the fields of economy, commerce, technology and investment, as several agreements would be signed in these domains to enhance bilateral cooperation and realize mutual benefit.

Thus, the significance of the visit is not only represented in the activities to be done during its few days, but also it would be felt from its outcomes and the follow-ups by the competent authorities in the two countries for the implementation of the agreements.

So, it is not only beneficial but also necessary for Egypt to further consolidate and strengthen its relations with India, which is emerging so that we can benefit from its experience and emerge globally like the Indians. I believe that the visit of President Mubarak would mark the real start of serious links with India.

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