New Delhi: In a significant push to bolster India-Israel economic
The delegation comprised top Israeli CEOs and industry leaders from sectors such as technology, manufacturing, healthcare, agri-tech, food processing, defense, homeland security, water management, logistics, and retail.
Delivering his speech, Israel’s Ecomomy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat expresses his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Describing the attacks as one of the most deadliest attacks, comparing to the atrocities to those committed by the Nazis, he emphasised that, “These Islamist jihadists tortured children. What we witnessed was beyond horrific. Hamas is a terrorist organisation and their goal is to finish Israel but that will never happen.”
The Israeli minister also shared a personal connection with India, revealing that his daughter had married an Indian, making him a proud grandfather. “We trust Indians. We feel comfortable with Indians,” he remarked, underlining the deep-rooted people-to-people ties between the two nations.
The visit comes at a time when India and Israel are looking forward to expand their business cooperation.
Many Israelis have business interests in the U.S., but we want to do more with India. With its young minds and growing global stature, India is a hub of opportunities,” Barkat added. He also highlighted major investments like the Adani Group’s acquisition of Haifa Port and the potential of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
While interacting to the media personnel on the sidelines of this flagship India-Israel Business Forum which took place at The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi, the Israeli minister “I see India scaling very rapidly to become a very dominant global player. Israel, though small, is very innovative… I am leading the biggest-ever delegation from Israel to any country in the world… I am very optimistic that we will be able to find the solution and scale the economies and make the lives of Indians and Israelis much better.”
On the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement, the minister said that “We are moving into that direction”, but did not gave a specific deadline.
It is pertinent to note here that the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and the Embassy of Israel, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organised the India-Israel Business Forum on Tuesday.