Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Israel will work to conclude a mutually beneficial free trade agreement. PM Modi made the statement in a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. India and Israel have also signed an agreement to link their UPI systems, enhancing financial connectivity between the two nations.
Once implemented, Indian visitors and companies operating in Israel will be able to make seamless digital payments, while Israeli businesses will also gain smoother access to India's digital payment ecosystem.
During a joint press briefing, PM Modi announced that India and Israel have taken a landmark step by deciding to elevate their longstanding relationship to a special strategic partnership. He said the move reflects the shared aspirations and growing ambitions of both nations.
Prime Minister Modi also said that humanity must never suffer because of conflict, while addressing the joint press briefing.
Expressing support for the Gaza peace plan, PM Modi said a path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan and that India has fully supported these efforts.
After bilateral talks between PM Modi and Netanyahu, both countries signed a series of agreements aimed at widening cooperation. The deals cover areas such as innovation, agriculture, and technological development, sectors where India and Israel already collaborate closely.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that PM Modi has concluded his state visit to Israel, undertaken at the invitation of PM Netanyahu.
He noted that this is PM Modi's second visit to the country, with his first taking place nearly nine years ago. Misri added that the latest visit marks a significant milestone in India–Israel ties.
"It's been a short visit, slightly over 24 hours, but it has been a very rich visit in terms of outcomes, and therefore a very productive exercise... This visit comes in the context of an effort by the Prime Minister himself to take an interest in and pursue India's relations with all the countries in West Asia," Misri added.
