Israel’s Ambassador to India said the country is “excited” to welcome PM Modi this week. He highlighted that the visit would strengthen ties, with a Free Trade Agreement between India and Israel expected later this year.
Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said on Monday that the country is “excited” to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. He added that Modi’s visit would see both nations “move forward decisively” in their partnership.
In a video shared on X, Azar said, “Namaste, this is an exciting moment for India-Israel relations. We are looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel. Now when India and Israel come together, it’s never just a meeting. It’s a partnership built on trust, powered by innovation and guided by a clear understanding of the challenges of our time. During this visit, we will move forward decisively.”
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Strengthening defence and security ties
Azar highlighted that India and Israel will deepen their defence partnership during Modi’s visit by updating security agreements:
“India and Israel have worked closely for years and we are proud of this strong cooperation. But the world is changing fast, and so are the threats. In order to meet them, we will deepen our defence relationship by updating our security agreements. This will allow us to engage in more sensitive projects and develop technological solutions together.”
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Economic cooperation and Free Trade Agreement
The Israeli envoy noted that bilateral economic ties are gaining momentum, with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) expected soon:
“We signed a bilateral investment treaty and we are moving forward to sign a Free Trade Agreement, hopefully this year.”
Collaboration in innovation and key sectors
Azar also stressed that Modi’s visit will advance cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, and Cyber. He added that sectors like transportation, water, agriculture, and academic partnerships will also benefit:
“Israel would like to see Indian infrastructure companies coming to Israel. We want to streamline our financial cooperation and promote innovation. India and Israel are not just partners. We are true friends shaping the future together.”
Mutual respect and personal rapport
Ahead of the visit, Modi acknowledged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal tribute, in which Netanyahu described Modi as a “dear friend” and called the visit a milestone in bilateral ties. Modi responded on X:
“Thank you, my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu. I fully agree with you on the bond between India and Israel as well as the diverse nature of our bilateral relations. India deeply values the enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation and a shared commitment to peace and progress. Looking forward to our discussions during my upcoming Israel