Egypt seeks to triple trade with India, focusing on energy

Egypt’s Minister for Investment and Trade, El Khatib, believes that trade between Egypt and India can grow significantly. Speaking at the 2025 Raisina Dialogue, he highlighted that the current trade volume is small compared to the potential for growth. El Khatib expressed a desire to not just increase trade by 10-20%, but to triple or quadruple it. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in food and energy security. Egypt aims to become a green energy hub, planning to add 65 gigawatts of energy by 2040, mostly from renewable sources. El Khatib mentioned the country's advantages, such as abundant land and sunlight, to support this goal. Regarding global economic shifts, El Khatib noted that globalization is changing. He indicated that countries are adopting more protectionist policies, referencing trends in the US and Europe. Egypt aims to remain competitive amid these changes, focusing on creating a favorable business environment for private investment. El Khatib also discussed Africa's economic landscape. He sees potential in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and other regional agreements. However, he pointed out challenges like transportation and logistics that hinder trade. He advocates for balanced trade with Africa, emphasizing the need for industrialization across the continent.