9 Jan, 2012, 1235 hrs IST, PTI
JERUSALEM: Terming Israel as an
"important partner", India's top
diplomat here counts counter-terrorism, multi-billion dollar defence
arena, agriculture, water and energy
as sectors that will see growing
cooperation between the two countries
in the coming years.
"There are several sectors in which
India and Israel will be working
together, are working together and
which are critical for both the
economies," Indian Ambassador to
Israel Navtej Sarna said here as the
two countries celebrate 20 years of
diplomatic relations this year.
Though, diplomatic relations between
Tel Aviv and New Delhi was set up
only in 1992, the ties between the
two have grown on a very fast pace.
From a mere $200 million bilateral
trade in 1992, it has grown to about $
5 billion last year. Not only that, the
bilateral defence trade stands at
approximately about $9 billion and is
growing at a very fast pace.
Tel Aviv has emerged as the second
biggest defence supplier to New Delhi
after Russia. From a buyer-seller
relationship, both India and Israel are
now trying to branch out to joint
research and development initiatives.
Both the countries are in discussion on
a Free Trade Agreement and official
believe that once it is signed, trade
figures will see an exponential jump.
"We are in the business of making
partnership with large number of
countries which help us to actualize
potential of our people and enable us
to grow at the rate we are growing or
even faster," Sarna said.
"In that sense Israel is an important
partner, is a source of excellent
technology for us," he said.
JERUSALEM: Terming Israel as an
"important partner", India's top
diplomat here counts counter-terrorism, multi-billion dollar defence
arena, agriculture, water and energy
as sectors that will see growing
cooperation between the two countries
in the coming years.
"There are several sectors in which
India and Israel will be working
together, are working together and
which are critical for both the
economies," Indian Ambassador to
Israel Navtej Sarna said here as the
two countries celebrate 20 years of
diplomatic relations this year.
Though, diplomatic relations between
Tel Aviv and New Delhi was set up
only in 1992, the ties between the
two have grown on a very fast pace.
From a mere $200 million bilateral
trade in 1992, it has grown to about $
5 billion last year. Not only that, the
bilateral defence trade stands at
approximately about $9 billion and is
growing at a very fast pace.
Tel Aviv has emerged as the second
biggest defence supplier to New Delhi
after Russia. From a buyer-seller
relationship, both India and Israel are
now trying to branch out to joint
research and development initiatives.
Both the countries are in discussion on
a Free Trade Agreement and official
believe that once it is signed, trade
figures will see an exponential jump.
"We are in the business of making
partnership with large number of
countries which help us to actualize
potential of our people and enable us
to grow at the rate we are growing or
even faster," Sarna said.
"In that sense Israel is an important
partner, is a source of excellent
technology for us," he said.