Five takeaways from PM Modi's Egypt visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed his two-day Egypt visit on Sunday. The visit, the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM in 26 years, came on the back of a highly publicised US trip, where he was given the state honour and met who-is-who from the United States. However, the PM's Egypt visit also saw him accomplish some important goals for himself and the country.

India's renewed 'strategic partnership' with the African nation, Egypt conferring Modi with the highest state honour, and the Indian PM's visit to the 11th-century Al-Hakim mosque were some of the most important factors of his visit. 

ZeeBiz takes you through five takeaways from Modi's visit to Egypt.

Stratgic Partnership 

Through the visit, Indian PM Modi renewed India's old relationship with the African country.

He and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held wide-ranging talks with a focus on strengthening political relationships and enhancing security cooperation.

The bilateral talks were also centred around defence collaboration, scientific and academic exchanges, trade and investment ties, and developing people-to-people contacts.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters, "Besides the agreement on strategic partnership, the two countries also signed three more pacts on -- agriculture and allied sectors; protection and preservation of monuments and archaeological sites; and competition law." 

Highest State Honour

Modi has already been conferred with the highest civilian orders in Fiji and Papua New Guinea this year.

When Egypt conferred Modi with the highest state honour, Order of the Nile, on Sunday, it was acclaim for the Indian Prime Minister's growing stature in world politics.

It was the 13th state honour for Modi in his ninth year as PM.

Visit to Al-Hakim Mosque

One of the most distinctive features of Modi's Egypt visit was visiting Egypt's historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo.

The mosque was built in 1012 by the Fatimid dynasty, which ruled Egypt at the time.

The mosque grabbed attention after its restoration work, which finished three months back, was completed with the help of India's Dawoodi Bohra community.

Bohras are known as supporters of Modi even before he became the prime minister of India. 

Dawoodi Bohras are the descendents of the Fatimid dynasty, named after Prophet Muhammad's daughter, Fatima. Bohras belong to the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam.

It is a business-class, close-knit community with its roots in Gujarat.

In fact, the word 'Bohra' has been derived from the Gujarati word 'vohrvy' or vyapar.

But Bohras also live in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and they are quite influential in Mumbai's business circle.

Their global population is just five lakh, and they also live in Pakistan, the Middle East, and Yemen.

Bohras have distinctive cultural identities and are known for their unique religious attire, which differentiates them from the attire of their counterparts in the Muslim community.

Billionaire Azim Premji and filmmaking duo Abbas-Mustan are some of the most prominent personalities from the Bohra community in India.

Meeting with Grand Mufti

Dr Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt, holds immense power in Egypt as he is the country chief of all muftis, who have the legal power to issue fatwas, a legal order as per Islamic jurisprudence.

He is so powerful that he can issue death sentences to people, and his advice holds importance in the government's religious matters. 

The Grand Mufti appreciated the Prime Minister's leadership in fostering inclusivity and pluralism.

The Grand Mufti also lauded India's commitment to religious equality and communal existence.

A meeting with the Grand Mufti of a Sunni country also gives Modi a chance to prove that he is acceptable as a religiously inclusive leader. 

Homage to Indian soldiers

During his visit, PM Modi also paid tribute at the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo to Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I fighting for British India.

Rarely does an Indian PM get the opportunity to pay homage to Indian soldiers in a foreign land.

Modi's gesture cemented his nationalist image among his supporters, who believe that he cares for Indians in every corner of the world.

The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial commemorates nearly 4,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War.

It also pays tribute to over 600 soldiers of the Commonwealth forces who laid down their lives for Aden during WWI.