Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on 14 November 2026, for an official visit aimed at strengthening the India–Egypt Strategic Partnership, deepening bilateral trade and investment relations, and exploring new opportunities for industrial and commercial cooperation between the two countries.

India and Egypt share a longstanding relationship rooted in historical, civilizational and people-to-people ties. Over the years, this relationship has evolved into a multifaceted partnership encompassing political, economic, security and cultural cooperation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India–Egypt relations have gained renewed momentum, culminating in the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, with a shared commitment to enhanced cooperation, including in the economic domain.

At the beginning of his visit, Shri Piyush Goyal paid homage to Indian soldiers at the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo, honouring their sacrifice and contribution. Of the 4,000 soldiers buried or commemorated at the cemetery, 3,727 were Indian soldiers. Nearly 2,000 of them lost their lives during the First World War and around 1,700 during the Second World War.

The Minister also addressed an Indian community event organised by the Indian Community Association in Egypt. The interaction provided an opportunity to engage with members of the Indian diaspora and acknowledge their role in strengthening economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal highlighted the strength of India–Egypt relations, noting that bilateral trade of around US$6.5 billion represents only the beginning of the partnership between the two ancient civilisations. Describing the Indian community as a living bridge between the two countries, he underscored the contribution of nearly 70 Indian companies operating in Egypt, with investments exceeding US$5 billion and generating direct and indirect employment for Egyptians.

The Indian community in Egypt continues to serve as an important bridge between the two nations, contributing to commercial exchanges, professional cooperation and the broader India–Egypt relationship.

The visit will feature the 7th Session of the India–Egypt Joint Trade Committee (JTC), the India–Egypt Joint Business Council (JBC) Meeting and the India–Egypt Business Forum. The 7th Session of the India–Egypt Joint Trade Committee will be co-chaired by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Egypt H.E. Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh on 15 November 2026 in Cairo.

The programme will also include bilateral meetings with senior Egyptian Ministers, interactions with leading business representatives and meetings with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association and the Egypt–India Startups Forum. These engagements are expected to provide platforms for reviewing bilateral economic cooperation, addressing trade and investment-related issues, and identifying new avenues for business partnerships, while giving fresh impetus to bilateral trade, investment, industrial cooperation and innovation linkages.

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Abhishek Dayal/ Garima Singh/ Ishita Biswas