New Delhi - Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to begin a three-day visit to Egypt Tuesday aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

Mukherjee is scheduled to meet his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abdul Gheit and hold discussions on a range of issues including global trade talks, energy security and ways to boost bilateral trade and business relations, diplomatic officials said.

India was Egypt's fourth largest trading partner and largest importers of Egyptian products in 2007, according to an Indian External Affairs Ministry release. Two-way trade touched 2.3 billion dollars in 2007.

Mukherjee's visit, at the invitation of Gheit, would be the first by an Indian foreign minister to Egypt since February 2001.

The Middle East peace process, United Nation's reforms and other regional and global issues are likely to come up during Mukherjee's discussions with Egyptian leaders.

Mukherjee's talks with Gheit are also expected set the stage for the visit of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to India later in 2008, PTI news agency reported. (dpa)