Israel may sign free trade deal with India this year, says Israeli envoy

Israel and India are moving toward a Free Trade Agreement that could be finalised this year, Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar said on Monday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Jewish nation starting February 25.

In a social media message, Azar said Israel was excited to host PM Modi, describing New Delhi-Tel Aviv ties as a partnership rooted in trust and driven by innovation.

"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," he said in a post on X.

The Israeli envoy also indicated that the two sides intend to move forward decisively during PM Modi's upcoming visit.

"During this visit, we will move forward decisively. First, on security and defence. 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 together a logical solution," Azar said.

The ambassador said both countries were working towards signing an FTA, with an Israeli delegation expected to arrive in India for negotiations. He expressed hope that the first phase of the trade pact could be completed in the coming weeks, after which pending issues would be taken up.

"Second, our economic partnership is gaining real momentum. We signed a bilateral investment treaty and we are moving forward to sign a free trade agreement hopefully this year," he added.

Speaking from Jerusalem, Azar said Modi is “very loved in Israel” and shares a special relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He added that several agreements are expected during the visit, particularly in the defence sector, with an emphasis on co-production and co-development of new technologies for counterterrorism and other challenges.

His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Modi said he was looking forward to his visit to Israel, responding to Benjamin Netanyahu's message on X about the upcoming trip.

""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," PM Modi said.

"Looking forward to our discussions during my upcoming Israel visit," he added.

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