India and Israel relationship: Namaste, Shalom to friendship

News: India and Israel today celebrated their 30th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations.

What are the areas of cooperation between India and Israel relationship?

Agriculture: Israel is helping India in water management and other innovative solutions. It is also providing training to  Indian farmers with advanced agricultural technologies, according to their specific needs.

Security cooperation: Both countries participated together in the Blue Flag exercise, held in Israel.

Economic relation: India is one of Israel’s most important trading partners. Israel is the original “Start-up Nation” while India has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. Israeli start-ups and entrepreneurs, large Indian companies, programmers, and IT specialists are becoming natural partners. Israel also established a for advanced technological innovation fund in water, agriculture, healthcare, energy, and communications. The two countries are also about to start negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement.

New grouping: India, Israel, UAE, and U.S. launch quad forum

Establishments: “India Trail” is established in Israel to commemorate the Indian soldiers who fell in World War I. Similarly, a “Jewish Trail” is established in Mumbai to emphasize the Jewish community’s contribution to India.

People-People ties: The Indian-Jewish community contributed to the building of the Indian nation. Various experts like David Sassoon who helped found the Bank of India, Lt General JFR Jacob, the hero of Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, medical doctor Dr. Jerusha Jhirad, and poet Nissim Ezekiel have their contributions in building the friendly relationship.

Source: This post is based on the article “Namaste, Shalom to friendship” published in the Times of India on 28th January 2022.