During his official visit to Israel, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal engaged in a series of high-level meetings and interactions, further solidifying the bilateral cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the realms of agriculture, technology, innovation, and trade.
Goyal’s discussions with Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Avi Dichter, shed light on Israel’s ambitious 25-year food security roadmap and its cutting-edge advancements in seed improvement and water-reuse technologies for agriculture. These insights could prove invaluable for India, which is continually seeking innovative solutions to enhance its agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The Minister’s visit to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation offered a glimpse into Israel’s technological prowess. Goyal witnessed demonstrations of pioneering innovations, including drip irrigation systems, stent technologies, and the Iron Dome system. These technologies, particularly those related to agriculture and water management, could hold significant potential for India, given the country’s vast agricultural landscape and water management challenges.
Goyal’s exploration of Israel’s advancements in mobility solutions through an autonomous-drive demonstration by Mobileye underscored the potential for collaboration in precision engineering and next-generation mobility solutions, areas of growing importance in India’s rapidly urbanizing landscape.
The Minister’s visit to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel provided a unique perspective on Israel’s model of cooperative living, sustainable agricultural practices, and community-driven innovation. These insights could offer valuable lessons for India’s rural development and sustainability efforts.
Goyal’s engagements also included a meeting with Israel’s Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat, where they reviewed the current trajectory of bilateral trade and explored new areas of cooperation. The India-Israel Business Forum, attended by both Ministers and senior industry leaders, reflected the strong private-sector interest in expanding collaboration across technology, innovation, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.
The signing of the Terms of Reference for the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement marked a significant milestone during the visit. This agreement could potentially boost bilateral trade, investment, and technological cooperation, benefiting both nations.
Throughout his engagements, Goyal emphasized the trust-based foundation of India-Israel relations and highlighted substantial opportunities in sectors such as fintech, agritech, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, machine learning, pharmaceuticals, space, and defence. His interactions with leading Israeli companies in these sectors underscored the potential for enhanced collaboration and technology transfer.
In essence, Minister Goyal’s visit to Israel has not only strengthened bilateral ties but also opened up new avenues for cooperation in areas critical to India’s development priorities. The insights gained and partnerships forged during this visit could significantly contribute to India’s technological advancement, agricultural innovation, and overall economic growth.