Amid Growing Ties, India’s Prime Minister Modi to Embark on Historic Visit to Israel

Amid Growing Ties, India’s Prime Minister Modi to Embark on Historic Visit to Israel

With economic and diplomatic ties at all-time high, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a 3-day visit to Israel starting tomorrow, making it the first ever visit by an Indian premier to the Jewish State. The historic visit comes as both countries mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations.

India-Israel “relations are upbeat holding huge potential,” said Dr. Anju Kumar, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Israel. “India and Israel are complementary economies. India, given its huge population has lot of demand for technology in order to increase agricultural productivity, water efficiency and recycling, post-harvest treatment, digitisation and making its cities smart. Israel has many such innovative technologies which can be adapted to Indian requirements.”

Embassy of Israel in New Delhi welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s visit in a press statement:

Israel warmly welcomes Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on his visit to Israel at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit will take place July 4th-6th, and will include a call on the Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, and a working meeting and dinner with the Israeli Prime Minister. It will also include high-level bilateral meetings and other various components which reflect the fabric of the Indo-Israeli relations.

“India and Israel to elevate ties during PM Modi’s visit,” wrote the leading Indian newspaper Times of India. Prime Modi visit is a “public embrace of a country that he has long admired for its military and technical expertise,”claimed Indian TV network NDTV.

During Indian Prime Minister’s visit, the subjects of agriculture and water will be the main agendas of discussion, reported Indian newspaper Financial Express:

[Prime Minister Modi] is expected to discuss terrorism and cooperation in counter-terrorism operations with the Middle Eastern country. [Indian Ambassador to Israel, Pavan] Kapoor told the Indian Express that the focal point of the visit would be development. Israel will show Modi an agriculture farm and the country’s ‘precision agriculture’ on Tuesday afternoon. This is to show that technology can be used to yield crops and have a higher productivity, Kapoor said. Along with this, the PM will also be shown water management, treatment and purification. Kapoor told the paper that India could learn a lot from Israel about water, as it transitioned from water deficit to surplus […]

In 2008, Israel unveiled an ambitious programme to bring Israeli advancements in agriculture technology to Indian framers. Under this project, Israel has so far set up 15 agriculture centres across India, co-managed by Israel’s agency for international development, MASHAV and India’s Ministry of Agriculture. In coming years, Israel plans to set up 12 more agriculture centres in India. The project promotes joint development of crops and techniques in keeping with the local Indian needs and challenges.

Watch Israelis welcome @narendramodi to Israel, in #Hindi! #ModiInIsrael #GrowingPartnership pic.twitter.com/bS3J4TvnFP

— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) June 28, 2017

Israeli universities and academic institutions offer programmes aimed at students, innovators, and researchers as well as corporate leaders from India. Each year selected Indian entrepreneurs attend Israel’s flag-ship start-up event “Start Tel Aviv” and get the opportunity to connect with Israeli start-ups and investors. Israel’s Council for Higher Education also grants hundreds to scholarships to Indians interested in pursuing higher education in Israel.

Amb. @danielocarmon & head of Asia Div. @Sofer_Mark at press conf. Regarding the @PMOIndia @narendramodi visit. #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/jLZPPh32cb

— ????????Assaf Moran (@AssafMoran) July 3, 2017

The visit has managed to generate much public interest in Israel. On Wednesday, some 5,000 people are expected to attend PM Modi’s public reception hosted by the Indian community in Tel Aviv. With 80,000-100,000 Jews of Indian origin living in Israel, India wants to build on that legacy. Government of Indian plans to set up a cultural centre in the country to promote cultural and diaspora ties.

Video: Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Indian broadcaster DD News interviews Israel’s envoy to India, Ambassador Daniel Carmon

[Cover image courtesy YouTube]

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