The 74th Republic Day’s chief guest, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, will arrive in New Delhi around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. During his official visit from January 24 to January 27, he will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes five ministers and senior officials. For the first time ever, the president of Egypt has been invited to celebrate India’s Republic Day as the chief guest.
Sisi will receive a formal welcome on Wednesday at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar among others. According to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs, he will also hold a meeting with Jaishankar, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He is also set to place a wreath at the Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation.
A meeting with PM Modi, discussing bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interests will also take place. According to an official statement by the MEA, “This is for the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest on our Republic Day. A military contingent from Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade.” The ministry further added, “The forthcoming visit of President Sisi is expected to further strengthen and deepen the time-tested partnership between India and Egypt”