How Did Goyal’s Visit to Israel Enhance Collaboration in Innovation, Mobility, Finance, and Agritech?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Strengthened cooperation in agriculture and technology.
- Engagements with key Israeli ministers to explore new opportunities.
- Showcased Israel's innovation ecosystem through visits to various centers.
- Signed Terms of Reference for the Free Trade Agreement.
- Promoted trust-based relationships between India and Israel.
New Delhi, Nov 22 (NationPress) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has significantly strengthened India's partnership with Israel through a series of engagements on November 20–21, as reported by the government on Saturday.
His discussions were centered on broadening cooperation in agriculture, technology, innovation, trade, and investment, highlighting the increasingly strategic alignment between the two nations.
During his meeting with Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Avi Dichter, Goyal explored avenues to enhance agricultural collaboration.
Minister Dichter informed him about Israel’s long-term food-security strategy, advanced seed-improvement initiatives, and the nation’s leadership in water-reuse technologies.
Goyal acknowledged that such expertise is highly relevant to India’s agricultural goals.
He also toured the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, where he learned about Israel’s celebrated innovation ecosystem.
He observed advancements like drip irrigation systems, medical stent technologies, the Iron Dome system, and cutting-edge virtual-reality solutions.
Goyal regarded the Centre as an inspiring venue that exemplifies Israel’s journey of creativity and social impact.
In another engagement, the Minister experienced an autonomous-drive demonstration by Mobileye, showcasing Israel’s advancements in next-generation mobility solutions.
Goyal also visited Kibbutz Ramat Rachel to gain insights into its cooperative lifestyle, sustainable farming techniques, and community-driven development model.
His official visit commenced on November 20 with a meeting with Israel’s Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat.
The two leaders assessed the current trade relations and explored new collaborative opportunities.
This was followed by the India–Israel Business Forum, which gathered senior industry leaders from both nations for technical discussions and B2B interactions.
While addressing the forum, Goyal emphasized the trust-based foundation of India–Israel relations and pointed out substantial opportunities in fintech, agritech, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, pharmaceuticals, space, and defense.
The Minister also consulted with Israel’s Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, to discuss strengthening investment flows, financial-technology cooperation, and regulatory alignment between the two countries.
During his industry engagements, Goyal interacted with leading Israeli companies, including Check Point, IDE Technologies, NTA, and Netafim.
Discussions encompassed cybersecurity, water and sewage management, urban mobility solutions, and advanced irrigation systems—areas that closely align with India’s development objectives.
A major highlight of the visit was the signing of the Terms of Reference for the India–Israel Free Trade Agreement.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to progressing negotiations in a constructive and balanced manner to enhance trade and investment.
Goyal also engaged with Israeli media, met members of the diamond community—a vital pillar of bilateral trade—and later participated in the India–Israel CEOs Forum alongside Minister Barkat.
He underscored the strength and growing potential of the economic partnership between the two nations.