Mr. Dammu Ravi, who previously served as India’s BRICS Sherpa:Both India and Egypt go a long wayback; we are civilizational countries, fountains of civilization, with very deep cultural links

By - Hala 2026-08-17 Comments (0) 2 Mins Read

On the sidelines of the conference “India-Egypt Partnership in BRICS: Towards a Shared Agenda for the Global South,” we had the honor of conducting an exclusive interview with Mr. Dammu Ravi, who previously served as India’s BRICS Sherpa and retired last year from the position of Deputy Minister / Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs of India. As a former diplomat, he is currently working to enhance mutual understanding between India and Egypt, as well as within the BRICS framework, to explore new ideas and areas for cooperation.

How can you see Egypt and India in the future?”

“First, let me say how delighted I am to be in your beautiful country; this is my first visit. Both India and Egypt go a long way back; we are civilizational countries, fountains of civilization, with very deep cultural links. During the freedom struggle, India and Egypt worked very closely. Our first Prime Minister Nehru and your President Nasser worked closely for freedom movements and the liberation of many countries. Today, our two leaders are very close: Prime Minister Modi and President El-Sisi have met many times, and President El-Sisi visited India as the Chief Guest for Republic Day. The BRICS forum is another area for both countries to work together—not only for mutual benefit but also for the Global South—to protect multilateral rules and institutions where India and Egypt can ensure multilateralism thrive

“What are the best areas for cooperation between Egypt and India?

“Trade is already growing between our two countries and has reached 6.4 billion dollars, growing exponentially. Indian investments are also growing strongly, with around 5 billion dollars and 70 Indian companies operating in Egypt. However, we need to be more innovative and move to the next level. The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) is a great opportunity for Indian companies to invest, and we need our business sectors to dialogue and understand both the opportunities and the obstacles. Egypt is a very promising investment hub with a market size of over 100 million people, making it a key gateway in North Africa.”