Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will visit Egypt from November 15 to 16, 2026, to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, with infrastructure, manufacturing, ports, logistics and industrial development expected to be key areas of discussion.
During the two-day visit, Goyal will co-chair the seventh session of the India-Egypt Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in Cairo on November 15 with Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Mohamed Farid Saleh. The ministerial-level meeting will review progress in bilateral trade and investment and discuss ways to diversify and expand the existing trade basket.
Cooperation opportunities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, industrial development, manufacturing, infrastructure, ports and logistics, and regional value chains are expected to feature in the discussions. Both countries will also consider measures to facilitate greater business participation in each other’s markets, address trade-related concerns, strengthen institutional mechanisms and promote investment partnerships.
A high-level Indian business delegation comprising more than 130 business leaders and senior industry representatives will accompany Goyal. The delegation will participate in the India-Egypt Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting and the India-Egypt Business Forum, providing a platform for companies to explore trade and investment opportunities, joint ventures, technology partnerships and industrial collaboration.
The JTC meeting will also cover market access, non-tariff barriers, trade remedies, agricultural and food products, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, engineering goods, chemicals and petrochemicals, fertilisers, textiles, MSMEs, customs cooperation and services. Renewable energy, green hydrogen, transport and logistics are among the other areas on the agenda.
Goyal is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with senior Egyptian ministers and interact with business representatives. His engagements will include meetings with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association, along with participation in the Egypt-India Startups Forum.
Bilateral merchandise trade between India and Egypt reached US$5.04 billion during April-September 2026, registering a 64 per cent increase over the corresponding period of the previous year. India’s exports to Egypt stood at US$3.87 billion in FY 2025-26, while imports from Egypt amounted to US$2.60 billion.
India’s major exports to Egypt include meat and poultry products, petroleum products, organic chemicals, cotton and machinery. Major imports from Egypt comprise crude petroleum, fertilisers, cotton and mineral products.
Egypt’s strategic location offers Indian businesses access to markets across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The visit is expected to provide further opportunities to expand cooperation in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles, chemicals, engineering goods, food processing, renewable energy, logistics and emerging technologies.
