Israel - India Relations

India-Israel relations have seen a renaissance in recent years. The rapprochement of the relation is reflected in growing connections between the business sector in India and Israel. Furthermore, high-level officials from both sides have met each other in a never seen before ranking and frequency.

India and Israel mark 30 years of full diplomatic relations. Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Israel in 2017 and met with Israel's PM followed by the visit from Israel's PM in January 2018.

In the last 30 years, India and Israel have signed a number of agreements to strengthen economic cooperation. From agreements to encourage and protect investments to space cooperation agreements, Israel and India are working hand in hand for the benefit of the two countries. 

/*-->*/ An MoU has been signed between Israel's Start-Up Nation Central and India's International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate) to initiate a bilateral program to accelerate innovation and technology cooperation.

Agreement on Health Cooperation: On 21 December 2020, India and Israel signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the fields of Health and Medicine. The Agreement includes sharing of expertise for facilitating climate-resilient infrastructure & expediting cooperation in exchange & training of medical doctors & other health professionals, assistance in the development of human resources & setting up of health care facilities. The Agreement will also facilitate the exchange of information regarding the regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics. India and Israel also continue to support and cooperate in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic

India has become one of Israel’s largest trading partners. Many of the world’s leading high-tech companies in Israel and India are forging joint ventures that are successfully competing in the international marketplace.

As of 2021-22, the total trade between the two countries stood at $7.86bn

FDI inflows from Israel between April 2000 - December 2022 were reported at $ 281.2 mn

Industrial and R&D Cooperation. An MoU, with a contribution of US$ 20 million from each side over 5 years (2018-2022), is playing an important role in enabling Indian and Israeli enterprises to undertake joint industrial R&D projects in priority technology sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, healthcare and ICT. The eighth round of Call of Proposals under the I4F was concluded in February 2022

Indian Potash limited (IPL), under Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers signed an MoU with Israel Chemicals Limited (ICL) for the supply of Muriate of Potash (MOP) for the period 2022 to 2027 with a yearly quantity of 6 to 6.5 LMT in the presence of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers on 21 March 2022 in Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.

As a result of a strengthened relationship between the two countries, the State of Israel and private universities offer scholarships to Indian students in the country. From undergraduate and graduate to doctoral and post-doctoral programs, a variety of universities throughout Israel seek to encourage Indian students to acquire their higher education in Israel.

Annual Conventions are hosted for the Indians living in Israel and the 'Know India' Programme has been effective in binding the Indians in Israel to their culture. Cultural influences are also reflected in the entertainment industry, from music artists to film producers, with cooperation between the two countries creating original content.

Since 2018, the Indian airline 'Air India' has begun operating direct flights from New Delhi to Tel Aviv. In addition, the company is considering opening another line that will connect Tel Aviv to Mumbai. This reflects a strong emerging connection between the two countries.