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Daily News Egypt
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Pakistan Eyes Deeper Economic and Defence Ties with Egypt, Says Ambassador
In an in-depth interview with Daily News Egypt, Pakistan's Ambassador to Cairo, Aamir Shouket, detailed the robust and evolving relationship between the two nations. Against a backdrop of significant regional instability, Ambassador Shouket discussed the extensive cooperation in defence and counter-terrorism and outlined a clear vision for expanding the modest $300m trade volume by leveraging untapped potential in sectors ranging from information technology and tourism to mining and agriculture. He also elaborated on Pakistan's official stance on the devastating war in Gaza and the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, underscoring a shared commitment with Egypt to pursue diplomacy and de-escalation. In light of the current changes and rising uncertainty in the region, can we expect a greater rapprochement in defence and security between Egypt and Pakistan in the upcoming period? Yes, we have very good ongoing cooperation; our military-to-military cooperation is strong. If you look back at the recent past, we have participated in the Bright Star exercise and some other exercises. Egyptian troops have visited Pakistan to join us in exercises, and they participated in the Defence Expo in Pakistan. Numerous delegations visit. Our Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee visited Egypt, and there is a planned visit in the near future as well. The joint committee covers a range of subjects. We also have a military officer undergoing training here at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, and an Egyptian officer is training in Pakistan. So that kind of training is also ongoing. I am pretty satisfied with the level of military-to-military cooperation, which is very strong and gaining further strength, and hopefully will continue to do so in the years to come. Regarding terrorism, has there been any development in cooperation between Cairo and Islamabad on counter-terrorism efforts? Yes, we have a very close collaboration. I cannot speak about the details, but yes, I can say that there have been joint exercises as well. Do you think the current levels of economic and trade cooperation are satisfactory, and how can joint trade and investment be boosted? This is one area where we can say that the trade and investment between our two countries are not up to their bilateral trade, both ways, is around $300m, plus or minus. But we think, and Egypt thinks the same way, that there is much more room to grow. There may be one odd sector where we compete, but we also complement each other. I'll tell you how. Egypt, like Pakistan, is known for producing high-quality textiles and cotton products. Egyptian cotton, of course, is very exclusive in the world, so it goes to very exclusive brands. Other Egyptian brands then need yarn and fabric to produce in their factories, which comes from Pakistan, because we are also one of the largest cotton-producing countries. Our cotton may not be as exclusive as Egyptian cotton for the very high-end brands, but for your day-to-day products, it's very popular in the world, be it home textiles or ready-made garments. Most importantly, Egypt also offers very fertile ground in the sense that there are these exclusive economic zones. Egypt's position as a gateway to Africa and its proximity to Europe also makes it very attractive for business people from Pakistan to come and set up their industrial plants here. Already, there are a few: at least two textile factories and one which camerecently for football manufacturing. You would probably know that Pakistan is the leading football manufacturing nationin the world, particularly the match balls. The footballs used by Adidas for the FIFA World Cup, the Euro League, and the Bundesliga are all made in Pakistan. Now, such a factory has been set up in Egypt by a Pakistani group, and we are happyto note that a number of footballs will now be produced here in Egypt for events like the World Cup and for UEFA. And what about Egyptian investment in Pakistan? What sectors do you think Egyptian companies could explore? Investment going the other way, into Pakistan, is also important, because Egypt has acquired excellence in a number ofareas. For example, high-end property development, where Egypt has become very popular. There is a major Egyptian group which has been in Pakistan for many years. To begin with, they were the owners of the biggest mobile phone operator in Pakistan, which they sold. But now, for a few years, they have entered the property development market. They have established one of the best properties in Islamabad, with a golf course like the many you have here in Cairo, with modern, European-standard villas. It has become very popular, although it's for high-end users, but we needed such a thing. The other sector, which is very important and where we can learn and benefit from Egypt, is tourism. The Egyptian tourism sector is very well-advanced. We have so many touristic places in Pakistan, but of a different nature. You offer more antiquities and, on the other hand, the Red Sea; we have high-altitude mountains, skiing, and trekking. But the basics are the same: hospitality, training, the management of tourists, and the management of the industry itself. That is another area where there is a lot of potential for Egyptian companies to come. One other area I don't want to forget to mention is the mining sector. Pakistan has recently opened up this sector forinvestment, and there has been an indication by certain Egyptian groups that they are interested. Pakistan is sitting on a wealth of mines and rare earth metals, from copper and zinc to gold. There has been investment that came in, but we want more to come in. So that is one area where we see a lot of potential for working with Egypt. Has the Pakistani government introduced any new incentives to attract foreign investment in these sectors? Exactly. For the past two years, the Government of Pakistan has established a new body called the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The necessity to set up this body arose because Pakistan is a federal republic, and by constitution, our provinces are autonomous in taking their own decisions. This was causing a bit of confusion and bureaucratic problems for investors. First, they had to get permissions from the province, and then from the federal government, dealing with licensing and which fee to be paid where. It was becoming very cumbersome. At times, some investors also raised security concerns. That is why an informed decision was taken by the government to set up a body backed by legislation, so that a decision, once taken, cannot be undone by successive governments if there is a change. It also has the backing of the law so that it cannot be challenged in the courts. The body is chaired by the Prime Minister himself, and we also have the military present in it to provide assurance and confidence to the investor that there will be an element of security, because the military has a presence all over the country. With the presence of all the provinces, we have now made this a one-stop shop for investors. You don't have to go anywhere else; you just go to SIFC, and that's it. The other linked step is the simplification of the visa process for Pakistan, which includes Egypt. It's for about 126 countries. It's a visa-prior-to-approval system. You just sit in front of a computer, upload your picture, a copy of your passport, and fill in a few columns. No fee, nothing. Just submit it, and within 48 hours, it's in your email. You don't need to send your passport anywhere, no stamp, nothing. Just print the paper and travel. It's for up to 30 days, but if you become an investor and want a longer visa, you can get one for five or ten years through the same online process. We have taken care of that so that investors aren't running after the visa thing. You mentioned mining and tourism. What are the other priority sectors? The other identified sectors are energy—clean energy—and agriculture. And I forgot a very, very important sector: IT and software. Here again, I see great potential between Egypt and Pakistan because, in this sector, you don't need to send goods or samples, and people don't even have to travel. They can sit in cyberspace and collaborate. Pakistan is now slowly and gradually becoming a hub of freelancing. We have more than 700,000 in our IT labour force, and every year, another 75,000 are added. Like Egypt, we have a big population of about 245 million, and about 60% of our population is young. The government has been making efforts to attract more and more young people to this IT sector so that we can benefit from our youth bulge. Because of that, the government has provided numerous incentives, be it in the education sector where new courses have been introduced, or short courses where young people after high school canlearn coding in one or two years and become developers. Another I would call revolutionary step is to introduce shared workspaces for IT developers. All these young people, who mostly work as individual freelancers, need a place to sit and work. They cannot afford an office. At home, they may not have stable electricity or a stable internet connection. So, the government has set up IT parks in major cities where a young IT or software developer can go, sit, work, and pay by usage. These are open 24 hours because they work in different time zones with the US, Australia, Europe, or the Gulf countries. The interesting fact about Pakistan's IT industry is that most of the more than 20,000 companies are small and medium-sized. So if a company in Egypt would like to engage an IT company in Pakistan, they would be dealing directly with the chief executive of the company. Another important aspect is that we offer much lower prices. Also, Pakistan is amongstthe top four or five countries where English is spoken, and English, as you know, is the global language in the field of IT and software. So we have an advantage there. Egypt also has a very well-educated and talented young population, and I see a lot of collaboration in that area as well. On the other side, what challenges do Pakistani investors face here in Egypt, and what incentives could the Egyptian Government offer to make their access easier? I think one primary challenge, which we are addressing with the Egyptian government, is the issuance of it can take a bit longer for our business people. We understand the reasons and the concerns, but we are tryingto find a way through certified Chambers of Commerce and other trade bodies, both in the private sector and government agencies, so that certified people can get a visa very quickly. Until and unless a businessperson, investor, or trader visits the country where they are interested in doing business, things cannot move forward. Other than that, I think we don't face that many challenges here in Egypt. The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), which is the body that deals with investments, and our Board of Investment have an MoU, and we can take advantage of that. I know that the Egyptian government is very keen on the promotion of investment and trade with Pakistan. Specifically on trade, what are the goods that you think Pakistan and Egypt could trade more of? Ambassador Shouket: There are a number of items. One is related to cotton and cotton products: home textiles, yarn, and fabric. The other area is in the field of agricultural products and food items. I think that is a very important area where there is a lot of scope both ways. For example, Egypt consumes a lot of rice, and we are one of the leading rice exporters. Unfortunately, not enough rice from Pakistan is coming here. Egypt is importing from some other countries. It's not primarily Egypt's fault; it may be at our end as well, depending on how much our exporters can export or what incentives they see in sending it to Europe, as we are the number one exporter of Basmati rice to the European Union. But our effort is to also focus on Egypt because this is a big country. Another area where there is some trade happening, but again, more scope, is surgical products. Pakistan is well-known for its surgical products—not technical products, but mostly the knives and scissors used in operation theatres. And related to it is the industry of crockery and cutlery. The third is sports goods, which has already opened its doors. Egypt is a sport-loving country. We produce a lot of products, from rackets to balls to hockey sticks to uniforms, kits, shoes, and is another area where I see a lot of products can come in. In food items, also, Pakistan is, if I'm not wrong, the second-largest producer of rock salt. The pink Himalayan salt is very famous. It's not only for cooking; we also make products from the rock, from lamps to decorative items. We export a lotof these things to European markets, and Egypt could be one such market as well. So, yes, there is plenty of scope. What about cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange? This is a very interesting area. If you look back at the history of Egypt-Pakistan relations, among the more than 40 agreements and MoUs we have, the one on cultural cooperation was among the very first we signed, back in the early 1950s. Another interesting fact, which is not very well-known among the younger generation, is that Umm Kulthum, as we call her, the 'Nightingale of the Orient,' sang a poem by Allama Muhammad Iqbal, our national poet. It was an Arabic translation of his very famous poem, Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa, which apparently became very famous in Egypt. In the late 1960s, she was awarded the highest civil award of Pakistan. Coming back to the present time, yes, we have exchanges happening, and more can happen. One is Qawwali, a type of Sufi mystic singing that is popular in our part of the world. Every year, we participate in the Sama'a International Festival for Spiritual Music & Chanting here in Cairo. A group comes and performs and it has become very popular among Egyptian audiences. Additionally, there is big scope, and we are working on it, in terms of exchanging films and TV dramas. Egyptian filmsand dramas are very popular in the broader Arab-speaking world, but we think there is a scope for them to be screened in Pakistan with either dubbing or subtitling. We have been doing this for a few years with Turkish dramas, and they became very popular. We have more than 100 proper TV channels in Pakistan, so there is scope. In a similar way, we want to bring Pakistani dramas here, dubbed in Arabic, and we are in negotiation with some media groups here. We are also working on bringing some Pakistani publications about culture, having them translated into Arabic, and published and circulated here in Egypt. We have Al-Azhar Al-Sharif here, a very prestigious institution. We have students here as well. In Pakistan, we have the International Islamic University in Islamabad, where the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar used to teach. There are a number of Egyptians who go there and teach. We want to tell these stories to the younger generations of both countries so that they know more about each other. Is there a plan to expand cooperation in the educational sector, such as through scholarship programmes or student exchanges? We have existing mechanisms. Pakistan has a technical assistance programme, and from the Egyptian side, we get 30 scholarships for our students. But we are now trying to get more from both sides, trying to increase the number of scholarships. I will be meeting the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar on Thursday and will personally request him to consider increasing the number. We are also focusing on encouraging more students to come to other universities in other fields, like engineering and medicine. Many Pakistani students like to go abroad to study; why not Egypt? In the same fashion, we have some of the finest universities in Pakistan, like the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), which is among the top 300 in the world. We would also love to have Egyptian students go there. There used to be a lot of Egyptian students in Pakistan. My older sister used to tell me that in her college, she had Jordanian, Palestinian, and Egyptian classmates. So why not now? That would be one of our efforts to increase. Egypt and Pakistan have jointly pushed for a ceasefire in Gaza. Utilising Pakistan's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, will there be another diplomatic push for a permanent ceasefire? And how can the two countries coordinate on a plausible scenario for the 'day after' in Gaza? Pakistan is collaborating very closely with Egypt, especially in New York and also here. We fully support all initiatives by Egypt, be it the reconstruction plan of the Egyptian government, which was endorsed by the Arab League and then eventually by the OIC. We fully endorsed it and supported it. In terms of finding a solution for Gaza, we have made several statements and are fully aligned with what Egypt and other OIC members have called for. As far as support to the people of Gaza is concerned, Egypt has been very supportive of Pakistan's efforts. As you know, we do not have any direct relations with Israel, but we do have relations with the people of Palestine. Our government has sent material support, like medicines, tents, blankets, and food items. There have been eight humanitarian flights that came to Egypt, and Egyptian organisations have helped in delivering that assistance. Now, the Government of Pakistan and humanitarian organisations in Pakistan are desperately waiting for any opening. As soon as the corridor opens, they are ready to bring in more aid and assistance. So yes, we are very, very thankful to the Egyptian government and authorities. They have been very supportive of our efforts. How do you think the current conflict between Israel and Iran will impact the situation in Gaza? Well, I think it sort of shifts the focus from a very grave, catastrophic humanitarian issue where more than 34,000 innocent civilians, women, and children have been killed. Hospitals have been completely annihilated; civic facilities have been completely destroyed; hungry people are being shot and killed. I think it is important that the focus shifts back to this unprecedented humanitarian disaster that is happening. Regarding the recent tensions, Pakistan's official stance, like the joint statement with Egypt, shows you are aiming for de-escalation. Besides diplomatic efforts, what is the next course of action Pakistan might take if the situation deteriorates or the ceasefire fails? We have not closed the borders with Iran as such, but we are monitoring the situation very, very closely. Pakistan also has a significant Shia population, and they very frequently visit their religious holy sites. Our first and foremost priority was to bring them back safely to Pakistan. So an advisory was issued, and our embassy and consulates in Zahedan and Mashhad are working full-time to facilitate the return of all these visitors. So, we are organising evacuation efforts. In terms of what Pakistan has done so far, as you know, Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Our ambassador to the UN gave a very clear statement when a special session on the current situation was called at therequest of Iran, and Pakistan helped in arranging that meeting. Our ambassador gave the official stance of Pakistan at the forum of the UN Security Council. We condemn this unprovoked aggression, which is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a UN member state. Second, and importantly, to attack nuclear sites which are under the safeguard of the IAEA is a clear violation of the UN Charter, the charter of the IAEA, and various resolutions. And thirdly, Pakistan is in favour of finding a solution through dialogue and diplomacy. This is the official position. There were some unconfirmed reports on social media and in some American media outlets claiming that Pakistan might send military aid, arms, and missiles to Iran. Can you comment on this? Ambassador Shouket: I can tell you that yesterday, our Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, from the floor of the Senate of Pakistan, gave a very clear statement addressing all these issues. He clearly said that all these were fake news, and some of the videos were AI-generated and altered. He has very clearly addressed these issues, that there is no such thing. And there are no plans to do so in the future? Not to my knowledge at the moment. We are very clear in what we have said so far: that we will continue to find a solution through dialogue and diplomacy. And that is why there was a statement yesterday in which we also participated with several other countries. Following the last ceasefire with India, have there been any direct or indirect talks between the two countries? Not at the moment. But I would refer to numerous statements by my leadership—the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Foreign Minister—and also a special parliamentary delegation that was sent to the US, London, and Brussels. The head of the delegation, former foreign minister Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, made very clear statements that Pakistan is seeking dialogue which should be inclusive of everything, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. We are also willing to speak about the issue of terrorism, because we ourselves suffer from terrorism. I think the country that has suffered the most in the region is Pakistan. More than 80,000 lives have been lost and more than $150 billion in economic losses to Pakistan. So we are willing to talk about everything, but there has not been any discussion so far because the other side is reluctant, or appears to be reluctant, at the moment. On a personal level, what is your impression of Egypt and Cairo so far? I will say only one word: I feel at home. That's it. I don't want to say more than this. It's as if I am home. It's a home posting, as we say in the foreign service. Have you tried the Egyptian food? What was your favourite? Slowly and gradually, yes, I'm trying. My favourite is stuffed pigeon. Koshary is like an Egyptian brand now; you talk about Egyptian food and you say koshary. Of course, I tried it before coming. But the stuffed pigeon, yes, I like it. In Pakistan, we also love eating birds—halal birds, of course. Quail is popular in Pakistan, and pigeon in some areas. So yes, the stuffed pigeon is something I like. Quotes: 'I will say only one word: I feel at home. That's it. It's a home posting, as we say in the foreign service.' 'We want to rejuvenate the relationship for the younger generation of both countries, so that they know these stories about each other.' 'Pakistan is sitting on a wealth of mines and rare earth metals, from copper and zinc to gold. We see a lot of potential for working with Egypt.' 'Pakistan is seeking dialogue [with India] which should be inclusive of everything, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.'
Daily News Egypt
13-07-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Lipton Egypt to invest EGP 100m in local market by 2026
Islam Tarek, Head of Marketing at Lipton Egypt—one of the world's largest tea companies—announced that the company will boost its investments in the Egyptian market to EGP 100m by 2026, marking a 20% increase compared to this year. This expansion comes as part of a wider strategy focused on ramping up production, increasing exports, and strengthening cooperation with the public sector. Tarek told Daily News Egypt that Lipton also plans to raise its supply of tea products to Egypt's Ministry of Supply by 5–7% in 2024. The Ministry currently accounts for over 15% of Lipton's sales in Egypt. In April, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk met with company officials to discuss collaboration with the Holding Company for Food Industries. The meeting addressed ways to enhance supply chains, boost distribution efficiency, and ensure the availability of high-quality products at affordable prices, while drawing on the expertise of global brands like Lipton. According to Tarek, Lipton aims to increase local production by 10% by the end of 2025 and by 15% in 2026, supported by growing domestic demand. Recent estimates show that nearly 99.8% of Egyptians drink tea regularly. Since 1996, Lipton Egypt has operated a factory in Borg El Arab, Alexandria, with an annual production capacity of 25,000 tons across various tea products—including black tea, green tea, herbal tea, and fruit-infused tea. The factory serves both the local market and several export markets, notably Sudan, along with other African and Arab countries. As part of its regional expansion strategy, the company targets a 15% increase in exports by 2025 and up to 25% in 2026. Tarek noted that Lipton holds over 50% of Egypt's single-serve tea bag market, maintaining its top position in this segment. Egypt remains the company's largest market in the region, followed by Saudi Arabia, which accounts for around 30% of its regional sales share. As part of efforts to cut costs and improve supply chain flexibility, Lipton began sourcing herbs such as hibiscus, anise, and mint locally starting in the third quarter of 2023. Tarek said local herb production officially launched in the fourth quarter of 2023, contributing to a 46% rise in herbal product output within a year through better integration of local and imported supplies. Although the herbal tea segment currently makes up only about 5% of Egypt's total tea market, it is viewed as a key growth area, driven by rising consumer interest in healthy and natural products. This shift offers Lipton significant potential to expand further in the herbal tea segment. Tarek added that the company does not expect further price increases until at least the end of 2025, following a 35% price hike in April last year due to currency fluctuations. Despite a 3% slowdown in the local tea market amid inflationary pressures, Lipton managed to grow production by 20% and expects market growth of around 2–3% by year-end. Currently, Lipton Egypt operates approximately 30 distribution centres and plans to expand this network soon. Alongside Egypt, markets including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Turkey together represent about 18% of Lipton's global sales. According to Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egyptians spent around EGP 13bn on tea in 2023. Separately, Menna El-Sharkas, General Manager of Lipton Egypt, previously noted that total annual tea sales in Egypt exceed EGP 30bn. It is also worth mentioning that in 2021, Unilever sold several of its tea brands—including Lipton and PG Tips—to CVC Capital Partners for approximately €4.5bn. The deal included operations in over 100 countries, excluding key markets like India and Indonesia.
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egyptian exports jump nearly 20% in April, narrowing trade gap
Egypt's trade deficit narrowed by 9.5% in April 2025 to $3.42bn, compared with $3.78bn in the same month a year earlier, as the value of exports surged, the state statistics agency CAPMAS said on Tuesday. The value of exports increased by 19.8% to reach $4.10bn in April, up from $3.43bn in the same month of the previous year, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) said in its monthly bulletin. The rise in exports was driven by an increase in the value of several commodities, including petroleum products which jumped by 74.3%, ready-made clothes by 24.7%, fertilizers by 18.4%, and pasta and various food preparations by 51.4%. However, the value of some exports decreased in April compared with the year-ago period, including natural and liquefied gas which fell by 22.4%, fresh onions by 8.4%, and plastic products by 6.3%. The value of imports rose by 4.4% to $7.53 bn in April from $7.21 bn in the same month of 2024. This increase was due to a rise in the value of commodities such as natural gas, which surged by 79.1%, petroleum products by 3.5%, plastics in their primary forms by 6.9%, and raw materials of iron or steel by 0.04%. Meanwhile, imports of some key commodities declined, including wheat, which dropped by 37.5%, organic and inorganic chemicals by 10.8%, corn by 0.5%, and pharmaceuticals and medicinal preparations by 5.7%. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily News Egypt
22-06-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Being strategic partners, sky is limit for India-Egypt relations: Indian Ministry of External Affairs
New Delhi–In an era marked by rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics, India is asserting an increasingly influential role—not only as an economic powerhouse but also as a trusted partner in international development and regional stability. Daily News Egypt, invited to a high-level media briefing held at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, joined a select group of journalists from North and Sub-Saharan Africa to gain exclusive insight into India's expanding strategic vision. At the heart of that vision lies a strengthening partnership with Egypt, a bilateral relationship that has recently witnessed unprecedented momentum and diversification. Alongside its deepening ties with Egypt, India is also reinforcing its age-old connections with the African continent through a distinct model of needs-based cooperation rooted in shared history, mutual respect, and inclusive development. A Flourishing Strategic Partnership with Egypt Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Consular & Diaspora) in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, described India and Egypt as strategic partners, highlighting 2023 as a landmark year in the trajectory of bilateral ties. He recalled the historic visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to India in January 2023, during which he served as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations—an honour reserved for the closest of allies. Later that year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Cairo in June 2023, where he and President Al-Sisi signed a joint declaration to elevate relations to the level of a strategic partnership. President Al-Sisi returned to India again in September to participate in the G20 Summit hosted by New Delhi. 'This level of engagement is unprecedented and reflects a strong, mature, and strategic relationship between our two countries,' Chatterjee noted. 'Being strategic partners, you can imagine—the sky is the limit.' On the economic front, he reported that the current trade volume between India and Egypt stands at approximately $6bn. 'Sixbn is a promising figure, but we are not content. We aim to double this number in the coming years,' Chatterjee said, pointing to the considerable untapped potential in sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture, and digital technology. He further noted that Indian investments in Egypt are currently estimated at around $5bn, adding that both governments are exploring major developmental projects to further deepen bilateral economic cooperation. Shared Values and Solidarity Amid Global Crises Secretary Chatterjee also expressed deep appreciation for Egypt's solidarity in the wake of a terrorist attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir. He highlighted a phone call from President Al-Sisi to Prime Minister Modi, during which the Egyptian leader conveyed Egypt's full support and condolences. 'We were extremely grateful to all our friends and partners who stood with us in the fight against terrorism. Egypt's expression of solidarity was both timely and meaningful,' Chatterjee affirmed. Addressing more recent developments, Chatterjee commented on the Israeli strikes in Iran, saying that India had issued a formal statement expressing 'deep concern' over the escalation. He emphasised that India maintains 'very good relations with both Iran and Israel,' and continues to monitor the situation closely, particularly with regard to the safety of its large diaspora communities in both countries. 'We have advised all Indian nationals in these areas to exercise care and caution and stay safe,' he added. India's Position on Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Turning to the ongoing war in Gaza, Chatterjee reiterated India's principled stance in favour of peace, diplomacy, and humanitarian protection. 'India has consistently expressed concern over the loss of civilian lives and the urgent need to uphold humanitarian obligations,' he said. He underscored India's support for international efforts to deliver aid to civilians in Gaza, stating: 'India has provided humanitarian assistance both bilaterally and through UN channels. We have also called for a safe, sustained, and timely supply of humanitarian assistance to those affected.' On the broader conflict, he reaffirmed India's long-standing position. 'India has always supported a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue—one that leads to the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, within recognised and secure borders,' Chatterjee stressed. 'We believe that dialogue and diplomacy remain the best way forward, and our leaders have remained in close contact on this matter,' he added. India's Enduring Commitment to Africa Moving beyond the Middle East, Chatterjee also detailed India's deep and enduring partnership with Africa, which he described as 'millennia-old,' rooted in 'deep historical linkages, cultural exchanges, and vibrant people-to-people contacts.' He highlighted the presence of a 3.5 million-strong Indian diaspora in Africa, describing it as a 'living bridge' that contributes significantly to social and economic development across the continent. India's engagement with Africa, he explained, is framed by Prime Minister Modi's '10 guiding principles,' which emphasise Africa's own development agenda. 'Our approach is needs-based, inclusive, and designed to empower local communities, build capacities, and ensure long-term sustainability,' he said, drawing a clear contrast with extractive or exploitative models of cooperation. Chatterjee noted that India has significantly expanded its diplomatic footprint in Africa in recent years, establishing 17 new embassies and high commissions, bringing the total number of Indian missions on the continent to 46. Investing in People, Infrastructure, and Innovation India has also made education and capacity-building cornerstones of its Africa engagement. Over the past decade, more than 37,000 African professionals have been trained in India through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) programmes. Flagship educational institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology in Zanzibar, the National Forensic Sciences University in Uganda, and Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Rwanda stand as tangible outcomes of this partnership. In addition, India has supported the establishment of numerous IT centres across the continent. On the infrastructure front, Chatterjee noted that India is currently involved in more than 200 development projects in Africa in sectors such as transportation, energy, agriculture, and water resource management. Over the last ten years alone, India has extended over $700 million in grant assistance to African countries. A Trusted Economic and Technological Partner Economically, India is now Africa's fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volumes nearing $100bn. Indian investments across the continent have reached approximately $75bn, spanning sectors including information technology, pharmaceuticals, automotive manufacturing, mining, and banking. India, Chatterjee noted, was also the first developing country to offer duty-free access to exports from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) through its Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme, introduced in 2008. He expressed optimism about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a 'game-changer' with immense potential to integrate African economies more fully into the global trade system. India, he said, continues to advocate for stronger African representation in international institutions and supports Africa's participation in multilateral initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Global Biofuel Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the International Big Cat Alliance. 'As a trusted technology partner, India is ready to share its digital innovations like India Stack,' Chatterjee stated, citing examples of African nations already utilising UPI-based digital payments and national ID systems to promote financial inclusion. He added that India is also collaborating on the use of space technologies for precision agriculture, weather forecasting, and disaster preparedness. India's Global Ambition Rooted in Shared Growth In closing, Chatterjee reflected on India's internal transformation, noting its rise to become 'the world's fourth-largest economy,' driven by inclusive growth and digital innovation. From domestic development to global partnerships, he said, India remains guided by the ancient ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—'The world is one family.'
Daily News Egypt
10-06-2025
- Science
- Daily News Egypt
Laboratorium: Russian scientists develop material for early-stage fire suppression
Laboratorium – Russian scientists have developed a material designed for autonomous fire suppression at an early stage in devices such as mobile phones, laptops and electric vehicles. The material is intended to help protect a range of electronics and household items, including sockets and extension cords. According to a report on the development, the scientists faced difficulties during the creation of the material. The composition of the material and details of the development process were outlined in a recent episode of the programme Laboratorium, featured on Daily News Egypt.
