PM Narendra Modi Receives Egypt's Highest Honour, 'Order Of The Nile'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Egypt's highest honour, the 'Order of the Nile', from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on Sunday (25 June).

Egypt instituted the 'Order of the Nile' in 1915 to recognise the invaluable services offered to Egypt or humanity by heads of state, crown princes, and vice presidents. This is the thirteenth-highest state honour conferred upon PM Modi.

During their meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Egypt, focusing on improving trade and investments, energy ties, and people-to-people connections.

Modi visited Cairo's historic eleventh-century Al-Hakim Mosque, which was restored with the help of India's Dawoodi Bohra community. The mosque, built in 1012, mainly performs Friday prayers and all five obligatory prayers. Al-Hakim is over a thousand years old and is the fourth oldest mosque in Cairo and the second Fatimid mosque to be built in the city.

During his visit to Egypt, PM Modi paid tribute to Indian soldiers who fought and died in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. In addition to touring the pyramids of Giza, he visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery, which includes the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial and the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, commemorating nearly 4,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War.

The Prime Minister met with members of the Indian community in Egypt, who referred to him as "India's hero." He responded, "Entire India is everyone’s hero. The people of the country work hard and the nation progresses."

At the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Modi was on a two-day visit to Egypt, the first by any Indian prime minister since 1997. This visit was significant as Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent.

Modi's visit to Egypt came right after his three-day trip to the US, where he engaged in bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, led Yoga Day celebrations, addressed the US Congress, held a press conference, and met with tech CEOs.