Israeli president Reuven Rivlin arrived India on November 14, 2016 on a six-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties.Rivlin, landed at the Mumbai airport with a large delegation of businessmen and presidents & senior representatives of Israeli academic institutions, from where he left for Delhi.
- He also visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with several sites of co-operation and joint projects between the two nations.
- The Israeli leader paid a visit to Chandigarh and Karnal as part of his plan to highlight agri-cooperation.
- In Chandigarh, he inaugurated ‘Agro Tech 2016′ along with President Mukherjee and in Karnal he visited the Centre of Excellence of Indo-Israeli Agricultural Project.
- Mr. Rivlin’s visit focuses on agriculture cooperation between the two countries. He was accompanied by Michael Mirilashvili, chairman of Watergen, one of the most important futuristic companies of Israel that specialises in optimal use of water resource.
- He also paid his respects at the sites of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in Mumbai and lay wreaths at memorials for Mahatma Gandhi and for Indian soldiers, who fell in the World War-I.
- Rivlin attended meetings with senior Indian officials and with leaders of the Jewish community.This visit is a sign of the strong relations and friendship between the two countries.
- Mr. Rivlin is the second president of Israel to visit India in two decades. The first Israeli president to visit India was Ezer Weizman who visited Delhi in 1997.
India, Israel agreed to Intensify Defence, Anti-Terror Cooperation
India and Israel on November 15, 2016 inked pact to intensify its already strong defence partnership to combat radicalisation and extremism and act tough against terror networks and states supporting terrorism.
- The two countries also agreed to deepen their cooperation in a variety of areas including trade and investment, agriculture, water resources and cyber crime
- India is Israels largest buyer of military hardware and the Israel has been supplying various weapons systems, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles over the last few years.
Referring to growing collaboration between the two countries, particularly in defence sector, the Israeli President said that his country is ready to “make in India and make with India“.
Water resources management and agriculture agreement
India and Israel have inked two agreements in the field of water resources management and agriculture. The agreements were signed in New Delhi on November 15, 2016.
India, Israel to boost cooperation to combat terrorism, radicalization
- The two nations also signed agreement to enhance their cooperation against the growing threat of terrorism and radicalization.
- The two leaders, recognised terrorism as a global challenge that knows no boundaries, and agreed that its time when the international community must act with determination against terror networks and states that harbour them.
About India-Israel relation
- In 2017, the two countries will celebrate 25 years of the establishment of full diplomatic relations which was established in 1992.
- India is the largest buyer of Israeli military equipment. The military business between the two nations between 1999 and 2009 was worth about 9 billion dollars.
- Israel is the second-largest defence supplier to India. Russia is the largest supplier.In terms of trade relations, India is the third-largest Asian trade partner of Israel. Overall, India is also the tenth-largest trade partner of Israel.
Israel :
♦ Capital: Jerusalem
♦ Currency: Israeli new shekel
