India, Egypt discuss boosting investment flows, trade in digital services: Piyush Goyal

India and Egypt agree to deepen investment ties and trade in digital services, says Piyush Goyal

India and Egypt have discussed concrete measures to boost two-way investment flows, reinforce bilateral economic cooperation and facilitate smoother trade in digitally delivered services, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday. The discussions took place during a bilateral meeting with Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, on the sidelines of the BRICS India 2026 Trade and Industry Ministers' Meeting.

"Held a meeting with Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Egypt, on the sidelines of the BRICS India 2026 Trade and Industry Ministers' Meeting," Goyal wrote on social media platform X. "Discussed measures to enhance two‑way investment flows, reinforce bilateral economic cooperation, and facilitate smoother trade in digitally delivered services."

The meeting underscores growing attention by both capitals to strengthen commercial ties beyond traditional goods trade and into digitally delivered services — an area of increasing importance as cross-border service supply is reshaped by technology and regulatory frameworks. Goyal and Dr. Saleh exchanged views on creating an enabling environment for investors from each country and removing frictions that affect digital cross-border transactions.

Goyal's remarks came amid broader multilateral consultations at the BRICS Industry Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur, held under India's BRICS 2026 Chairship. Earlier in the week, he addressed the Industry Ministers' Meeting and outlined priorities India wishes to advance within the grouping.

• Strengthening manufacturing competitiveness across BRICS nations.
• Deepening technological collaboration and building resilient value chains.
• Promoting sustainable industrial growth through clean energy and innovation.
• Prioritising support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and fostering startup innovation.
• Expanding technology-enabled logistics ecosystems to support trade.

"Delighted to address the BRICS Industry Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur under India's BRICS 2026 Chairship, where we discussed the future of industrial cooperation and economic collaboration," Goyal said in his address. He added that BRICS nations "have a unique opportunity to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness, deepen technological collaboration, build resilient value chains, and promote sustainable industrial growth."

India highlighted specific domestic priorities it seeks to promote internationally, including strengthening MSMEs, fostering startup innovation, expanding clean energy cooperation, and building technology-enabled logistics ecosystems to drive sustainable industrial development. These priorities align with the bilateral focus on facilitating digitally delivered services, where clearer rules and interoperable systems can reduce transaction costs and expand market access for service providers on both sides.

The Egypt meeting signals intent by both governments to translate high-level BRICS discussions into bilateral action. For businesses and investors, the immediate areas to watch include regulatory cooperation on digital trade, mechanisms to encourage two-way investment, and initiatives targeting MSMEs and startups that can scale cross-border services.

Looking ahead, officials from India and Egypt are expected to follow up on the meeting's outcomes with working-level engagements to identify specific policy steps and possible pilot projects. As Goyal and other BRICS ministers continue consultations under India's chairship, the emphasis on resilient value chains, clean energy collaboration and digital services is likely to shape subsequent trade and investment initiatives between the two countries.