Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will undertake an official visit to Egypt from November 15 to 16, 2026, to strengthen bilateral economic ties, expand trade and investment, promote industrial cooperation and enhance business-to-business engagement.
India and Egypt share longstanding historical, civilisational and people-to-people ties, which have evolved into a multifaceted partnership covering political, economic, security and cultural cooperation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bilateral relations have gained fresh momentum, with the two countries elevating their ties to a Strategic Partnership and committing to deeper cooperation, particularly in the economic sector.
During the visit, Goyal will participate in the seventh session of the India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee (JTC), the India-Egypt Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting and the India-Egypt Business Forum. The programme will also include bilateral meetings with senior Egyptian ministers, interactions with business leaders and engagements with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association and the Egypt-India Startups Forum.
The seventh session of the India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee will be held in Cairo on November 15 and co-chaired by Goyal and Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Mohamed Farid Saleh.
The JTC has been elevated to the ministerial level, reflecting the importance both countries attach to strengthening their economic and commercial partnership. The meeting will review progress in bilateral trade and investment and explore measures to diversify and expand the existing trade basket.
Discussions are expected to cover market access issues, non-tariff barriers, trade remedies, agricultural and food products, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, engineering goods, chemicals and petrochemicals, fertilisers, textiles, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), customs cooperation, services, renewable energy, green hydrogen, transport and logistics, among other areas of mutual interest.
Bilateral merchandise trade between India and Egypt stood at USD 5.04 billion during April-September 2026, registering a 64 per cent increase over the corresponding period of the previous year.
India’s exports to Egypt stood at USD 3.87 billion in FY 2025-26, while imports from the country amounted to USD 2.60 billion, according to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS).
India’s major exports to Egypt include meat and poultry products, petroleum products, organic chemicals, cotton and machinery. Its principal imports from Egypt comprise crude petroleum, fertilisers, cotton and mineral products.
The two sides are also expected to discuss ways to facilitate greater business participation in each other’s markets, strengthen institutional mechanisms, address trade-related concerns and promote investment partnerships.
Cooperation opportunities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, industrial development, manufacturing, infrastructure, ports, logistics and regional value chains are also likely to feature in the discussions. Egypt’s strategic geographical location offers Indian businesses opportunities to expand their presence in the country and gain access to markets across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
A high-level Indian business delegation comprising more than 130 chief executive officers and senior industry representatives from various sectors will participate in the Joint Business Council meeting and the India-Egypt Business Forum.
The engagements are expected to provide a platform for business leaders and industry stakeholders from both countries to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral trade and investment, establishing joint ventures, promoting technology partnerships and strengthening industrial collaboration.
Goyal will also hold bilateral meetings with senior Egyptian ministers to discuss ways to deepen economic and commercial relations, particularly in trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
The visit underscores India’s continued efforts to strengthen economic engagement with Egypt, an important partner in North Africa and a gateway to regional markets.
Both countries have considerable potential to expand cooperation in sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles, chemicals, engineering goods, food processing, renewable energy, logistics and emerging technologies.
The visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to the India-Egypt economic partnership, strengthen institutional cooperation and create new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
-PIB
