Piyush Goyal’s Egypt visit to open wider regional opportunities for Indian businesses: FIEO
Welcoming the visit, FIEO President S.C. Ralhan said Egypt could serve as a strategic gateway for Indian businesses seeking to expand exports, establish manufacturing partnerships and integrate into regional supply chains.
India-Egypt merchandise trade stood at USD 6.5 billion in 2025-26, comprising Indian exports of USD 3.9 billion and imports of USD 2.6 billion.
Petroleum products, engineering goods, chemicals, cotton yarn, buffalo meat and pharmaceuticals account for a substantial share of India’s exports to Egypt.
With India emerging as Egypt’s fifth-largest source of imports, the minister’s visit would provide an opportunity to diversify the export basket, improve market access and strengthen India’s position as a sourcing partner, Ralhan said.
Discussions during the visit are expected to cover trade expansion, investment promotion and cooperation in startups, fintech, pharmaceuticals, automobile components and infrastructure.
The proposed India-Egypt Startup Summit is also expected to facilitate partnerships among entrepreneurs, investors and technology companies.
Ralhan said Egypt’s strategic location, free trade agreements with several countries and connectivity through the Mediterranean offered Indian businesses opportunities to establish regional production and distribution hubs, subject to applicable rules of origin and preferential market access requirements.
More than 700 Indian companies are registered in Egypt, of which around 70 are actively operating across various sectors, with combined investments exceeding USD 5.5 billion, he said.
The existing Indian business presence could provide a foundation for fresh investments, industrial collaboration and greater participation of Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in regional supply chains.
Emphasising the need for sustained institutional engagement and business-to-business interactions, Ralhan said FIEO would work with the governments of India and Egypt to facilitate commercial partnerships, buyer-seller meetings and investment opportunities.
The visit is expected to strengthen economic ties and promote a more diversified and mutually beneficial India-Egypt trade and investment partnership, he added.
