Egypt and India strengthen Strategic Partnership and cultural ties

The Embassy of India in Egypt organized a Kathak Sandhya performance at Cairo’s Gomhoria Theatre on 22 October 2026 to celebrate the shared cultural history between the two nations.

Performers of various ages and nationalities showcased Indian classical dance, while the audience joined in singing Bollywood songs. The event featured a solo by Ms Sonam Chauhan, who interpreted a song by the Egyptian musical icon Oum Kalthoum to bridge the two artistic traditions.

The political relationship between Egypt and India dates back to a Treaty of Friendship signed in April 1955. Both countries cooperated through the Non-Aligned Movement, which they helped establish in 1961. This long history of cooperation led to a Strategic Partnership in 2023 and Egypt's entry into BRICS in January 2024. During a September 2026 BRICS summit in New Delhi, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed expanding trade and deepening their cooperation.

Economic ties are expanding through various sectors, including textiles and pharmaceuticals. Over 700 Indian companies are registered in Egypt, with about 70 currently active in industries like chemicals, energy, and apparel. These companies have invested more than US$5 billion. Furthermore, 92 Indian pharmaceutical companies participated in Cairo’s Pharmaconex exhibition in 2026 to improve medicine supply chains. The two countries also share deep cultural commonalities in food, medicine, and cinema, which continue to foster mutual understanding.