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India-Israel discuss strengthening trade ties
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SME Times News Bureau | 29 Sep, 2014
With India-Israel ties on the upswing after Narendra Modi's election,
the prime ministers of the two countries met Sunday to discuss boosting
trade as well as cooperation in areas ranging from agriculture and water
management to defence and cyber security.
An official statement
issued by the Indian Prime Minister's Office said Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu invited Modi to Israel.
"The two leaders
reviewed the robust relationship, and rapidly growing trade. They also
discussed how ties could be further expanded," the statement said.
Sunday's
meeting was the first high-level meeting between India and Israel since
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's 2003 visit to India. As chief minister of
Gujarat, Modi had visited Israel in 2006 and Netanyahu invited Modi to
visit Israel again, this time as the prime minister.
Israel also briefed the Indian prime minister on its perception of the situation in West Asia.
"Defence ties and cooperation in the field of computer software, and cyber security were also discussed," the statement said.
External
affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that in discussing
defence relations, Modi told Netanyahu about his "Make in India"
programme and pointed out that 49 percent investment was possible in
defence industries.
Modi made a pitch for Israeli investments and
the two prime ministers discussed boosting bilateral trade that now
stands at about $6 billion.
Israel has developed methods and
technologies for farming in arid land and for water management. Modi
wanted more cooperation in these areas, Akbaruddin said.
Modi
also wanted Israel to work with India in water management and solid
waste treatment in urban areas as part of his vision for smart cities.
While
discussing cooperation in the fields of software and computers,
Netanyahu mentioned that when he had worked in areas relating to
technology he found in California that a large number of workers were
Indians or Israelis.
Modi outlined his vision of waste water management and solid waste management in 500 towns across India.
The Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu telling Modi "sky is the limit" for relations between the two countries.
"We
are two old people, some of the oldest civilizations on earth. But also
two democracies, proud of our tradition, but also eager to seize the
future," Netanyahu said.
"I believe that if we work together, it will be for the benefit of both our peoples."
Modi
told him - and an earlier delegation of Jewish leaders from the
American Jewish Congress - that India is proud of its tradition of
tolerance towards Jews and and absence of discrimination against them.
Netanyahu and the Jewish leaders acknowledged that anti-Semitism was
never in India.
A sign of the ties between India and Israel
coming closer is the refusal of the Modi government to condemn Israel in
parliament for its actions in the Gaza as demanded by the Congress and
some other parties. This led to a walkout from the Lok Sabha by the
Congress and two other parties.
Modi has not held meetings with Palestinian or other West Asian leaders during his visit US.
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