Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the conclusion of his three-day visit, conveying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm wishes and updating him on key outcomes of bilateral engagements.
“Honoured to call on the Prime Minister of Israel, H.E. @Netanyahu, at the conclusion of my three-day visit,” Union Minister Goyal wrote on his official X account.
“Conveyed to him the warm wishes of Prime Minister @NarendraModi ji,” he added.
The Minister said he briefed Netanyahu on his discussions with Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat, the successful India–Israel Business and CEOs Forums, and the signing of the Terms of Reference to formally launch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations aimed at boosting trade, investment, and technology cooperation.
“Updated him on my discussions with Minister @NirBarkat and the successful holding of Business Forum and CEOs Forum with a more than 60-member Indian business delegation that accompanied me,” Goyal said.
“Highlighted the signing of the Terms of Reference to launch FTA negotiations, which will boost trade, investment, and technology cooperation,” he added.
Union Minister Goyal also discussed strengthening the partnership between the two nations in technology and talent.
“Discussed strengthening our innovation partnership by combining Israel’s hi-tech strengths with India’s scale and talent,” the Minister said.
The Commerce Minister sought guidance on further deepening bilateral economic and strategic engagement across sectors including agriculture, water, defence, science, technology, and innovation.
Earlier, Goyal said that as India and Israel aim to implement the proposed FTA in two phases, bilateral trade will increase and mutual relations in innovation and research and development will improve.
He emphasized that the visit to Israel as Commerce Minister after 20 years had been very successful.
“I hope that after this visit, bilateral trade between India and Israel will increase, there will be an improvement in our mutual relations in innovation, research, and development, and going forward, there will also be a significant surge in investment between the two countries,” Goyal said in Jerusalem.
He added that both countries are keen to finalise the first phase of the FTA early so that the trade community benefits sooner.
-IANS
