Contact FICCI
Strengthening India-Israel Ties: Charting Vision for the Future 3rd India-Israel CEO's Forum
Feb 11, 2025
NEW DELHI, 11 February 2025: Speaking at the Third India Israel CEO’s Forum, Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Govt of India today said, “It is exciting to see India and Israel coming together, forging deeper bonds and strengthening their strategic partnership. This is not just a collaboration of economies but a meeting of hearts, aimed at building a better future for the people of both nations.”
“India, with its vast and diverse economic landscape, presents a compelling growth story and offers immense opportunities across sectors such as textiles, engineering, and automotive manufacturing. Every region in India has unique strengths,” he added.
Mr Goyal further stated that despite the close ties, our trade and investment levels remain below their true potential and need to be fully leveraged. Today, we welcome the largest-ever business delegation from Israel to India, a testament to our commitment to deepen economic engagement. This will be a harbinger of a much closer relationship, he noted.
The Minister stated that with a strong focus on economic growth, education reform, and entrepreneurship, India is actively building an ecosystem that fosters deep-tech, agri-tech, and fintech innovations. Industry leaders, startups, and entrepreneurs are being encouraged to seize these opportunities. Today, India is home to 1,000+ incubation centers, 157,000 startups, aiming for 1 million in the next decade and 180 unicorns driving innovation and global competitiveness.
Highlighting the six pillars of India-Israel Collaboration (ISRAEL), the Minister added, “I stands for Impactful Engagement; S for Strengthening Supply Chains; R for Resilience in Our Economies; A for Advancing Agriculture & Water Technologies; E for Emerging Technologies Collaboration and L – Leadership on the Global Stage.”
“Israel’s journey over the past few decades has been remarkable driven by innovation, and world-class service standards. The country brings expertise in innovation, high-precision manufacturing, and efficient farming—offering a multitude of valuable lessons that India can learn from. Our shared history, culture, and traditions create a natural affinity between our nations, with bonds that go back centuries,” added Mr Goyal.
The India Israel partnership is poised for unprecedented growth, reinforcing our shared vision of innovation, economic prosperity, and global leadership, he emphasized.
His Excellency Nir M. Barkat, Israel’s Minister of Industry, addressed the gathering, highlighting the significance of the largest-ever Israeli business delegation to India. He recognized India’s rapid rise as a global economic powerhouse and emphasized its role as a gateway to international markets. Minister Barkat underscored the vast opportunities India offers for scaling high-quality products, making it an ideal partner for Israeli entrepreneurs.
He added that Israel is committed to making the world a better place, with a strong focus on food security and healthcare. As we work toward these global priorities, we actively seek partners from around the world to collaborate on innovative solutions. Strengthening these partnerships is crucial for building a sustainable and prosperous future.
Speaking about Israel’s thriving innovation ecosystem, the Minister shared insights on fostering collaboration in key sectors such as health, agro-tech, climate change, and cybersecurity. He noted that with over 10,000 Israeli startups actively seeking global partnerships, India serves as a crucial hub for innovation and market expansion.
"Our goal is to strengthen synergies between our entrepreneurial ecosystems, ensuring seamless cooperation between businesses," said His Excellency Nir M. Barkat. He stressed the importance of government support in enhancing industry linkages, facilitating advancements in technology, intellectual property, and product development for global markets.
Mr Ron Tomer, Co-Chair from Israel, emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and business ties between India and Israel, highlighting the forum’s role in fostering deeper economic engagement. He underlined Israel’s position as a hub for innovation and its potential to complement India’s strengths in manufacturing. Stressing the need for a private-sector-led approach, he called for increased collaboration between businesses to unlock new opportunities and drive sustainable growth. He reiterated the commitment to foster not only closer industry partnerships but significantly enhancing people to people exchange on a continued basis.
Mr Subhrakant Panda, Managing Director, IMFA and Co-Chair from India thanked all participants for their insights and active engagement, reaffirming the strong ties between India and Israel. He expressed optimism about the future of economic relations between the two nations, emphasizing that India’s economic growth is not only transforming its own landscape but also creating new opportunities for its global allies.
Ms Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, highlighted the evolving trade relationship between the two nations. She underscored FICCI’s efforts in strengthening business collaborations through engagements with institutional partners and facilitating B2B interactions across key sectors. Emphasizing the growing partnership between India and Israel across economic, technological, and strategic domains, she reiterated the shared commitment to driving mutual growth.
As India pursues its vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, this CEO Forum emerged as a crucial platform for dialogue between industry leaders and policymakers. The insights gained from the discussions will play a vital role in shaping policies and driving economic growth in both our countries.
The discussions between Indian and Israeli businesses underscored new avenues for collaboration, expanding beyond existing partnerships in defence, agriculture, and renewable energy. Opportunities in disaster management, water purification, infrastructure development, and data centers hold significant potential for strengthening bilateral ties. Israel’s cutting-edge technology and innovation ecosystem could complement India’s manufacturing and market potential, creating avenues for dynamic partnerships. Strengthening economic ties through mutual investment agreements and trade facilitation measures could further unlock the potential of this partnership.