Mumbai: Highlighting the deep understanding and strong ties between Egypt and India, Kamel Zayed Galal, the newly appointed Egyptian Ambassador to India, has emphasised the need to establish a twinning arrangement between Mumbai and Alexandria. He underscored the shared commitment of both nations to peace and cooperation.

The Ambassador made these remarks while meeting Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, on Friday. The Consul General of Egypt in Mumbai, Dahlia Tawakol, was also present during the discussion.

Mentioning the strong friendship between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ambassador said during his tenure as Ambassador to India, he would try to translate the Indo-Egypt Strategic Partnership Pact signed by the two leaders into a reality.

Expressing Egypt’s openness towards India, Ambassador Galal proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Library of Alexandria and the Asiatic Society of Mumbai to strengthen cultural and academic collaborations.

Ambassador Galal further highlighted the importance of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Green Hydrogen as key areas for future cooperation and encouraged Indian companies to establish offices and warehouses in Egypt.

Furthermore, Ambassador Galal noted the transformative leadership of both Prime Minister Modi and President Sisi since they assumed office in 2014, emphasising that when it comes to enhancing Egypt-India relations, “Mars is the limit.”

The Ambassador told the Governor that Egypt has Free Trade Agreements with 110 countries, including the European Union, Arab nations, and Latin America. He emphasised that stronger trade relations between India and Egypt would enhance global market access for Indian businesses.

Welcoming the Ambassador to Maharashtra, the Governor recalled the historic bond between Egypt and India, rooted in the Non-Aligned Movement co-founded by India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He also highlighted the potential boost to India-Egypt trade with the upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport and the completion of Vadhawan Port near Mumbai.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to significantly strengthening bilateral trade and cooperation in the coming years.