New Delhi: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sis will be the chief guest at India's 74th Republic Day celebrations next week. This will be the first time an Egyptian president is invited to serve in the honourable position. He will be the sixth West Asian and Arab leader to do so.
According to government sources, President el-Sisi is set to arrive in New Delhi on January 24th and will be greeted by Minister of State for External Affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.
A 180-member strong contingent from Egypt will also participate in the parade. PM Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Egyptian leader, reported NDTV. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu will also meet with him. A stamp marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Egypt will also be launched.
A series of agreements are expected to be signed between the two nations. India and Egypt are also likely to discuss defence ties as Egypt has expressed interest in purchasing advanced light combat helicopters.
Economic ties between New Delhi and Cairo will be addressed with a highlight on wheat supplies.
In 2022, India made an exception in wheat export rules to deliver 61,000 tonnes in three tranches. Egypt has traditionally imported wheat from Russia and Ukraine but suffered due to the ongoing conflict. Cairo has now lifted the ban on Indian wheat and requested further supplies.