Piyush Goyal Arrives in Cairo to Strengthen India-Egypt Trade and Investment Ties
Commerce Minister to co-chair 7th India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee meeting; over 130 Indian business leaders and start-ups accompany him
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on November 14, 2026, on an official visit aimed at strengthening economic and commercial relations between the two countries. The visit seeks to provide fresh momentum to the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership by expanding bilateral trade, encouraging investments and exploring new opportunities for industrial development, innovation and business cooperation.
A business delegation comprising more than 130 business leaders, entrepreneurs and start-ups is accompanying Goyal during the visit. The participation of a large Indian business delegation reflects India’s growing interest in strengthening its commercial engagement with Egypt and exploring opportunities in the Egyptian and wider African markets.
India and Egypt share longstanding historical, civilizational and cultural connections. Over the years, their relationship has developed into a multifaceted partnership covering political, economic, security and cultural cooperation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bilateral relations have received renewed impetus, with the two countries elevating their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and identifying economic cooperation as a key priority.
Piyush Goyal Pays Tribute to Indian Soldiers in Cairo
At the beginning of his official visit, Goyal paid homage to Indian soldiers at the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo, honouring their sacrifice and contribution during the First and Second World Wars.
The cemetery contains the graves or commemorations of approximately 4,000 soldiers, including 3,727 Indian soldiers. Nearly 2,000 Indian soldiers lost their lives during the First World War, while around 1,700 made the supreme sacrifice during the Second World War.
The tribute highlighted the historical connection between India and Egypt and acknowledged the contribution of Indian soldiers who served and sacrificed their lives during the two global conflicts.
Goyal Interacts with Indian Community in Egypt
The Commerce and Industry Minister also addressed members of the Indian community at an event organised by the Indian Community Association in Egypt. The interaction provided an opportunity to recognise the Indian diaspora’s contribution to strengthening economic, cultural and people-to-people relations between the two countries.
During his address, Goyal highlighted the growing economic partnership between India and Egypt, observing that bilateral trade currently stands at approximately US$6.5 billion. He described the existing trade relationship as only the beginning of the economic potential between the two ancient civilisations.
The Minister also emphasised the important role played by the Indian community in strengthening bilateral relations, describing the diaspora as a living bridge between India and Egypt.
Highlighting India’s investment footprint in Egypt, Goyal noted that nearly 70 Indian companies are operating in the country, with cumulative investments exceeding US$5 billion. These companies have also contributed to generating direct and indirect employment opportunities for Egyptian citizens.
The presence of Indian businesses across different sectors demonstrates the growing commercial engagement between the two countries and provides a strong foundation for further economic cooperation.
India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee Meeting on November 15
A major highlight of Goyal’s visit will be the 7th Session of the India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee (JTC), scheduled to take place in Cairo on November 15, 2026.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Piyush Goyal and Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Dr Mohamed Farid Saleh. The discussions are expected to focus on reviewing bilateral trade and investment relations, addressing issues affecting commercial exchanges and identifying fresh opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation.
The programme will also feature the India-Egypt Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting and the India-Egypt Business Forum, bringing together business representatives and stakeholders from both countries.
Focus on Investment, Start-ups and Industrial Cooperation
During the visit, Goyal is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with senior Egyptian ministers and interact with leading business representatives.
His programme includes engagements with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association and the Egypt-India Startups Forum.
These interactions are expected to explore opportunities for expanding investment flows, strengthening industrial partnerships, facilitating business-to-business cooperation and promoting collaboration between start-ups and innovation-driven enterprises.
The participation of more than 130 Indian business leaders and start-ups is expected to provide fresh opportunities for Indian companies to explore partnerships and expand their presence in Egypt.
The visit is expected to further consolidate the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership, with particular emphasis on trade diversification, investment promotion, industrial development and stronger business connectivity. It also reflects India’s broader efforts to deepen economic engagement with African countries and expand commercial partnerships in emerging markets.
