PM Modi’s state visit to Egypt is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in the past 26 years
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conferred Prime Minister Narendra Modi with ‘Order of the Nile’ award, the highest state honour of the North African country on Sunday.



Speaking about it, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi tweeted: “A mark of abiding friendship between India and Egypt, PM Narendra Modi was conferred with the highest civilian honour of Egypt, the ‘Order of the Nile’ by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on 25 June 2023.”



This is the 13th such highest state honour that various countries across the world have conferred upon Prime Minister Modi in the past nine years.



Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conferred Prime Minister Modi with the coveted award ahead of bilateral meeting



During the meeting, as per the MEA Spokesperson, both leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in trade and investment, defence and security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties.



Besides, the two leaders signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. Three MoUs in the field of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities and competition law were also signed, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in his tweet.



Modi’s state visit to Egypt is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in the past 26 years. Last Indian Prime Minister to arrive in Egypt on a state visit was I K Gujral. He had visited the North African country in 1997.



Although Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had undertaken a visit to Egypt in 2009, he had made an official trip to the country to attend the NAM Summit.



Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi visited Al-Hakim mosque during his two-day state visit to Egypt.



At the mosque, the Prime Minister was received by Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr Mostafa Waziri. Prime Minister Modi, as per the MEA, also met the leaders of Bohra community, who are actively involved in the upkeep of this Fatimid era Shi’a Mosque and highlighted the strong people to people ties between India and Egypt.



Al-Hakim is the fourth oldest mosque in Cairo and the second Fatimid mosque to be built in the city. The mosque covers an area of 13,560 square metres, with the iconic central courtyard occupying 5,000 square metres.



Prime Minister Modi also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Cairo and paid homage to over 4300 valiant Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during the 1st World War.