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Embassy of Israel in India
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Head of Economic & Trade Mission, Embassy of Israel in India
Israel-India
> Business Guide >
2017
Barak Granot
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
A
s you may already know, India and
Israel are celebrating 25 years of
growing partnership this year.
25 years ago, in the year of 1992, our two
countries decided to establish diplomatic
relations and ever since, there has been a
steady and consistent growth in bilateral
trade and economic relations.
India has become one of Israel's largest trade
partners, as many of the world's leading
high-tech companies in our countries are
forging joint ventures that are successfully
competing in the tough international
marketplace.Trade and cooperation between
India and Israel has grown beyond security-
related deals and is now focusing on
cooperation in areas such as agriculture,
water desalination and medical devices.
As of 2016, India-Israel trade had risen to
approximately $4.5 billion a year,far surpassing
the modest $200 million of 1992.India is also
listed as Israel’s third-largest Asian trade
partner after China and Hong-Kong.
There are various existing agreements
on space cooperation, agriculture
collaboration,training and know-how sharing
and even several agreements on water and
innovation (R&D).
India-Israel cooperation was enhanced since
the election of India's PrimeMinister Narendra
Modi in 2014. The two countries planned
and succeeded in taking relations to a new
level and to increase cooperation in various
fields. President of India Pranab Mukherjee
made the first ever presidential visit to Israel
in 2015, followed by the visit of the Israeli
President Reuven Rivlin who visited India for
a full week in mid-November 2016.
Following the emphasis by Prime Minister
Modi’s Government on addressing issues
related to agriculture, water management,
smart cities,healthcare,rural development and
infrastructure development in the country
as well as the importance accorded to start-
ups and social security, Israeli companies
have found a climate in India manifested
by increased business delegations arriving
in India and participating in exhibitions,
Seminars, etc. We can also say that there is
an equally positive reciprocity from India and
have observed a growing interest from the
government and the private sector in doing
business with Israel.
Notably,visa issuance to Indians and Israelis
wishing to do business has been an issue
of discussion between the two countries
for many years, as businesspeople who
have visited Israel or India in the past raised
concerns regarding the visa policies.Therefore,
we are all happy that the two governments
have decided on a new visa policy of "five-
year multiple entry visas" for Indian and Israeli
businesspeople.
We are hoping that this new policy will ease
the life of businesspeople from India and Israel
on their business journeys and are positive
that the forthcoming visit by Prime Minister
Modi to Israel will open yet another shining
chapter in India-Israel relations as the two
countries mark 25 years of diplomatic ties.
Good Luck to us all!
Barak Granot
Head of Economic and Trade Mission
Embassy of Israel – New Delhi, India