Cairo, Aug 17: India has outlined the priorities of its upcoming BRICS 2026 Chairship at a high-level conference in Cairo, underscoring its efforts to deepen cooperation with Egypt and advance the interests of the Global South through the multilateral grouping.
Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), addressed the inaugural session of the India-Egypt BRICS Partnership Conference, organised by the Indian Embassy in Egypt in collaboration with the Indian Council of World Affairs at the Diplomatic Club in Cairo.
During her address, Ranganathan presented the priorities of India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship and highlighted that the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership provides a strong foundation for expanding cooperation within BRICS while advancing the priorities of the Global South. The Indian Embassy in Egypt shared details of her address through a post on social media platform X.
The conference forms part of Ranganathan’s official visit to Egypt, Palestine and Lebanon from August 16 to August 21. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit is aimed at reinforcing India’s friendly relations with the three countries while providing an opportunity to discuss regional developments and other issues of mutual interest with counterparts and stakeholders.
The ministry stated that Ranganathan will also deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the conference titled “BRICS: Towards a Stronger Voice for the Global South.” The event is intended to examine ways to strengthen the India-Egypt partnership within the BRICS framework.
The MEA noted that this is Ranganathan’s first visit to Egypt, Palestine and Lebanon in her current capacity and said the visit is expected to further strengthen India’s engagement with the region.
The visit follows the 7th Meeting of the India-UAE Joint Committee on Consular Affairs (JCCA), co-chaired by Ranganathan in New Delhi on July 22 alongside Omar Obaid Mohammed Alhesan Alshamsi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During that meeting, India and the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity and well-being of their citizens residing in each other’s countries.
India’s diplomatic engagements in West Asia continue to focus on strengthening bilateral partnerships while advancing cooperation through regional and multilateral platforms, including BRICS.
