New Delhi, Nov 23 (LatestNewsX) – Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India and Israel plan to roll out a free‑trade agreement in two stages, a move that should lift bilateral trade and strengthen collaboration in innovation, research, industry and commerce.
After a 20‑year absence from Israel, Goyal hailed the visit as highly productive. “I hope that after this visit, bilateral trade between India and Israel will increase, there will be improvement in our mutual relations in innovation, research and development, and going forward, there will also be a significant surge in investment between the two countries,” he told reporters in Jerusalem.
He added that both sides are keen to wrap up the first phase of the FTA as soon as possible so that the business community can reap benefits sooner. “India and Israel know how to convert a crisis into an opportunity,” the minister noted, emphasizing that the four Labour Codes notified in India are part of the ongoing effort to transform “our procedures to encourage our workers, trade, industry and businesses”.
Goyal also engaged the sizable Indian community in Israel, running a special event with his counterpart Nir Barkat in Jerusalem. “Highlighted the strong bond between India and Israel and how the Indian community in Israel and the Jewish community in India play a vital role in ensuring the growth of people‑to‑people ties,” he posted on X.
He urged the Indian diaspora to help advance the journey to Viksit Bharat as both states work to unlock the partnership’s full potential.
Earlier in the trip, Goyal visited the Indian Hospice in Jerusalem and remarked, “It is a living symbol of Bharat’s historic, cultural, and spiritual ties with Jerusalem and a display of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ in action”.
His meetings centered on expanding cooperation in agriculture, technology, innovation, trade and investment—underscoring the growing strategic alignment between the two nations. — LatestNewsX. na/
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