India-Arab Partnership Reaffirmed in Cairo
Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) at India's Ministry of External Affairs, met Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Khalid Manzalawi, in Cairo. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-Arab partnership. According to the Indian Embassy in Egypt, discussions focused on advancing the Executive Programme 2026-28, adopted at the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting, including through concrete initiatives in new and emerging areas of cooperation.
Addressing BRICS Partnership Conference
Earlier, Ranganathan 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. There, she highlighted the priorities of India's BRICS 2026 Chairship and underscored how the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership provides a strong foundation for closer cooperation within BRICS and for advancing the priorities of the Global South.
Groundbreaking in Jenin
A major event on the Palestine leg of the visit was the groundbreaking of the 200-bed Indian Super Speciality Hospital in Jenin and Ramallah on Wednesday. Ranganathan participated in the ceremony along with Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, and other dignitaries. On this occasion, and underlining the move from agreement to implementation, the two sides signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the hospital project, which will include a trauma centre, as well as a separate pact with the Palestinian Ministry of Labour on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the printing sector.
The Representative Office of India to the State of Palestine in Ramallah announced on X that the ceremony “further strengthened our cooperation in healthcare, employment-oriented skills and capacity-building.”
Strengthening Palestinian Cooperation
During interviews with Palestinian leaders, Ranganathan reinforced India’s longstanding support. She met Premier Mohammad Mustafa, and the discussions, as recounted by the Indian office, focused on strengthening the longstanding India-Palestine partnership and advancing bilateral cooperation across key areas of mutual interest. At the same time as meetings with Prime Minister Mustafa, the Secretary also met Majdi Al-Khaldi, Diplomatic Advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas, and Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan. In the meeting with the Health Minister, India’s support for the Palestinian health sector was lauded, including supplying essential medicines, anti-cancer drugs, and an artificial limb fitting camp, as well as the deployment of an Indian field hospital in Gaza. A consignment of medicines from the Government of India was handed over to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the Secretary also visited an UNRWA health centre, where she reaffirmed that India’s support to UNRWA “remains strong.”
Foreign Minister Meeting
On Tuesday, Ranganathan called on Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, the Palestinian Foreign Minister and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, in Ramallah, as the first engagement of her visit. In this meeting, Ranganathan reiterated India's longstanding support for a negotiated two-State solution and underscored the importance of addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza through sustained humanitarian assistance and continued dialogue and diplomacy. The Palestinian Foreign Minister recalled her visits to India in January this year and expressed appreciation for India’s support. The meeting also discussed progress on the Government of India-funded Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy and the anticipated cooperation with the Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute.
The visit, the first by Ranganathan in her current capacity to the region, also served to reaffirm the broad lines of cooperation under the India-Arab partnership, as well as under the strategic partnership with Egypt.
Official Visit Context
Ranganathan’s official visit to Egypt, Palestine and Lebanon runs from August 16 to 21, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. This marks her maiden visit to the region in her current capacity, with the trip focusing on reinforcing India’s friendly ties and discussions on regional developments and mutual interests.