SaharRagab
Dr. Mohamed Hegazy, former Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt, affirmed that India-Africa relations represent a unique model of partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests, from political conditions or external agendas. He noted that the roots of this relationship date back to the historic alliance between late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who both supported African liberation movements and laid the foundations for solidarity among Global South nations.
Hegazy made these remarks during a press briefing hosted by the Embassy of India in Cairo on Wednesday, ahead of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit scheduled to take place on May 21 in New Delhi. The event was attended by India’s Ambassador to Egypt, Suresh K. Reddy, along with diplomats, journalists, and experts.
Hegazy explained that since the launch of the India-Africa Forum Summit in 2008, India has offered an exceptional development model for African countries, including nearly 50,000 scholarships, more than $600 million in development assistance, and concessional credit lines through the Export-Import Bank of India with low interest rates.
He stressed that one of the most significant aspects of the Indian approach has been the transfer of technology and expertise without restrictive conditions, particularly in strategic sectors such as space technology, nuclear energy, information technology, and geological engineering. According to Hegazy, this approach has provided African countries with genuine opportunities to build national capacities and achieve sustainable development.
He further noted that India does not impose political or economic agendas on its African partners, but rather adopts a framework of integration and balanced cooperation, which has strengthened African confidence in the Indian model compared to some other international powers.
Hegazy highlighted Egypt’s central role in India-Africa relations, citing the country’s strategic location and human resources. He revealed that around 50 Indian companies are currently operating in Egypt, with investments ranging between $6 and $7 billion, while direct Indian investments amount to approximately $3 billion.
He concluded that these figures reflect a deeply rooted level of trust and economic cooperation between Cairo and New Delhi, paving the way for broader partnerships in industry, technology, energy, training, and capacity-building in the coming years.