President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday that vast opportunities exist for India and Israel for cooperation in several sectors, including manufacturing and start-ups.

Welcoming visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kovind said India-Israel bilateral cooperation has expanded manifold.

"Political understanding, security cooperation and technology partnerships are key pillars of strategic engagement between India and Israel. He emphasised that collaboration in newer areas such as space, cyber security and innovation will add depth to our partnership," he said.

He added that opportunities lay before the two countries in the fields of investment, manufacturing, services, start-ups and technology.

Kovind appreciated the presence of Israeli companies in India especially in the water, defence, technology and pharma sectors. He urged them to partner India in its programmes such as Make in India, Clean India, Smart Cities and Digital India.

The president also said that India appreciates Israel’s cooperation in the field of agriculture, adding, "As we work to make our farming choices more sustainable, we will seek more Israeli support."