New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today held delegation-level bilateral talks with Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen and inked an agreement in the area of mobility. During the meeting both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen India-Israel relationship.
Moreover, both the leaders held productive and wide-ranging discussions on the main pillars of India and Israel’s strategic partnership – agriculture, water, defence and security.
Jaishankar after his talks with Cohen tweeted, “Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership – Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security – are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more.” He also said that apart from discussing cooperation in high tech, digital & innovation, as also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance, and health, they also noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral forums.
“Exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. Initialled an agreement in the area of mobility,” Jaishankar added.
Earlier to this Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen also opened the CII India-Israel Business Forum. Three MoUs were signed during the event, marking a new era of cooperation and partnership between the business communities of both nations.
At the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Cohen said India-Israel trade volume will surpass the $20-billion mark Terming India “the gate from the east to the west”, Cohen said trades from India will sell everywhere.
He also said that he would raise with Prime Minister Modi the issue of the free trade agreement between the two countries.
“I believe it can boost our relations. India and Israel are strategic partners which don’t compete with each other but complete each other,” Eli Cohen further stated in his key address at business forum.
It is the third high-level visit by senior Israeli officials in less than three months, coming in quick succession after Knesset (Israeli parliament) speaker Amir Ohana’s trip at the end of March-early April and also Economy Minister Nir Barkat’s visit to India last month.
Cohen was accompanied by a business delegation.
“It is very important to emphasise that Israel and India are strategic partners. We are not competing with each other. We definitely complete each other,” he said.
The Israeli foreign minister said agreements would be signed later on Tuesday for having more employees from India in Israel.
“We also like to take this opportunity to have students from India to Israel. Our countries should and have a lot in common. Both of us have a vibrant democracy. We are working together with the Jewish people and the Indian people for more than 2,000 years. But right now, I believe that in the coming 2,000 years, we can do much more,” he said.
Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the defence sector is an important area of cooperation between India and Israel. “And both countries have made significant progress (in it). It is appropriate to mention that to further our relationship today we are signing a joint statement of intent to establish India Israel’s central water technology at IIT-Roorke,” he said.
The Jal Shakti minister called on countries to come together and cooperate in the water sector.
“It is more pertinent for countries to come together and cooperate in the water sector in view of climate change. The role of the private sector and business leaders is vital in providing the solutions and in addressing the water security problems,” Shekhawat added.
Both countries also signed letter of intent to establish two Centers of Water Technology in India.
However, a project called World on Wheels (WoW Bus) was also launched by the Embassy of Israel in India in the presence of Foreign Minister Cohen. The aim of this initiative is to facilitate digital literacy, personality development, and entrepreneurship training in rural parts of India. This is one of the many projects undertaken by the embassy with local partners in India in the field of education.
The visit was cut short due to the security situation in Israel following Operation Shield and Arrow.
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
