AMN
India and Israel Wednesday agreed to establish a strategic partnership in water and agriculture. To achieve the goal, India and Israel signed 7 MoUs in the fields of water conservation, Space, Innovation and Agriculture.
In a joint statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem today, the two countries decided to set up an Technological Innovation Fund worth 40 million dollars. India and Israel also decided to cooperate in the field of Space research. Three MoUs were signed on the occasion between ISRO and the Israel Space Agency regarding cooperation in developing Atomic Clocks, Geo-Leo optical links and electric propulsion for small satellites.
Lauding Israel for its innovation in the field of water conservation, Mr. Modi said Israel is a leading nation in efficient usage of water and its purification. India has decided to cooperate with Israel on these issues.
In the field of water conservation two MoUs were signed on launching a national campaign for water conservation in India by sharing the experience of Israel in this field. Another MoU was signed on State Water Utility reform in India.
Prime Minister said that both the countries agreed to cooperate to combat growing radicalization and terrorism including in cyber space. Speaking on the occasion Prime Minister Modi said that both the countries discussed a gamut of issues which went beyond the bilateral issues alone. Mr. Modi said he discussed issues concerning global peace and stability.
Prime Minister said that he also discussed situation in the West Asia and wider region and hoped that peace, dialogue and restraint will prevail. He said India and Israel have agreed to do much more together to protect their strategic interest. He said two way trade and investment will be the bedrock of a strong partnership between the two countries. He said India and Israel aim to build a relationship that reflects shared priorities and draws on enduring bonds between the people of two countries.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the two countries were making history together. He said India and Israel have agreed to expand their cooperation in third countries including Africa. He said terrorism undermines peace and stability and the two countries have agreed to cooperate in this field also.
Briefing the media, foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said that the agenda of the meeting between the two prime minsters was to broadbase the relationship between Indian and Israel. He said utilizing technological innovation was important to achieve the aim of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Mr Benjamin Netanyahu was a significant step in expanding the ties in the field of agriculture and water conservation.