nir barkat

A high-level Israeli business delegation, led by economy minister nir barkat, concluded a two-day visit to India, marking Israel’s largest delegation of its kind. Over 100 CEOs from various sectors engaged in strategic meetings with Indian leaders to explore collaborations in fintech, MedTech, agritech, and cybersecurity. Barkat emphasized strengthening economic ties, while Israel’s ambassador highlighted India's growing role as a global power and key trade partner.

The move is being made to bring down the cost of numerous consumer goods such as electronic appliances. There will be discounts on dozens of consumer products such as diapers, washing powders, dishwashing liquid, computers, mobile phones and other everyday consumer products.

Mayor nir barkat announced in a statement on Thursday a "detailed plan to remove UNRWA from Jerusalem and replace its services with municipal services". UNRWA said such a move would affect its humanitarian operations and installations in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

India and Israel have officially launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, signing Terms of Reference in Tel Aviv. This comprehensive pact aims to broaden market access, boost capital flows for goods and services, and enhance economic engagement. Both nations anticipate the FTA will strengthen collaboration in technology and innovation, further solidifying their strategic partnership.

A team from Israel Builders Association visited India last week to recruit workers for the construction industry. Another delegation will leave for India next week to continue the recruitment process. The selection process will begin in Delhi and Chennai on December 27. The goal is to bring in 10,000 workers initially, with the potential to scale up to 30,000. The construction industry in Israel is facing a shortage of workers, and the government is looking to bring in workers from abroad to meet the demand.

Israel has eliminated customs duties on all US imports, expanding the free trade agreement and potentially reducing living costs. The amendment, signed by Economy Minister Barkat and approved by the Knesset Finance Committee, mainly impacts food and agricultural products. This move aims to strengthen US-Israel trade relations while benefiting Israeli consumers.

India and Israel are strengthening strategic and economic ties, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighting the launch of Free Trade Agreement negotiations during his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Discussions covered trade, investment, science, technology, and innovation, building on positive outcomes from business forums and earlier meetings with Israeli ministers.

India and Israel are boosting agricultural ties. Discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in farming. Both nations have also formally begun talks for a free trade agreement. This pact aims to remove trade barriers and encourage investment. The move signifies a renewed effort to expand bilateral trade relations and create new opportunities for businesses.

India is seeking to deepen collaboration with Israeli startups in areas like cybersecurity, medical devices, and mobility to bolster its innovation ecosystem. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted that technology-driven cooperation will be a key element of a proposed bilateral trade agreement, aiming to leverage Israel's frontier innovation and India's market scale.

Israel’s economy minister nir barkat highlighted the challenge posed by Iran and its proxies in West Asia. He emphasized Israel's goals in Gaza to eliminate Hamas and secure hostages, while supporting stronger economic ties with India. Barkat also reaffirmed Israel's willingness to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia and praised India's support for Israel.

The Jerusalem attacks, along with two stabbings in a central Israeli city, marked the most serious outbreak of violence since the current round of tensions erupted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit to India has been postponed due to security concerns following a recent blast in Delhi. Netanyahu had previously expressed solidarity with India after the incident. This development occurs as India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal concludes a visit to Israel, where discussions on a Free Trade Agreement and innovation ties were held.

India and Israel have officially launched negotiations for a free trade agreement, signing terms of reference to guide discussions. The pact aims to boost trade by removing barriers, facilitating investment, and enhancing cooperation in innovation and technology. Israel has assured India it won't seek market access in sensitive sectors like dairy and agriculture, opening new avenues for bilateral commerce.

nir barkat, Israel's minister for economy and industry, is optimistic about strengthening business ties with India across sectors such as high-tech, health and life sciences, agro tech, and homeland security. He emphasizes the complementary strengths of Israeli technology and Indian scaling capabilities. Discussions for increased Indian manpower in Israel are also underway.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal's Israel visit underscored India's growing global reliability. Discussions focused on a phased Free Trade Agreement, leveraging Israel's agricultural innovations for mutual growth. The successful trip, marked by strong industry and government interest, has initiated structured trade negotiations, signaling a new era in bilateral relations.

Israel is set to receive 10,000 Indian construction workers to address the severe manpower crisis in the industry caused by the conflict with Hamas. The workers will arrive in batches of 700 to 1,000 per week, and the Israeli government has increased the quota of foreign manpower for the construction industry to 50,000.

India and Israel have formalized a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to bolster economic cooperation and pave the way for a potential Free Trade Agreement. The agreement, signed by finance ministers from both nations, aims to protect investors, ensure fair treatment, and facilitate dispute resolution.

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is visiting India to sign a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), a move seen as paving the way for a future Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The BIT aims to protect investors and boost economic cooperation between the two nations. Both countries also aim to collaborate in fintech and project financing in third countries.

Palestinian workers return after Hamas war, but Israeli security organizations and municipalities are divided on the issue. Karnei Shomron security department and the army previously allowed workers with permits. However, after the October 7 massacre, it was revealed that some workers provided information to Hamas terrorists. Israeli jobs make up 30% of the general income of the West Bank. The building industry is stalled due to the lack of both Palestinian and Israeli workers. The government is considering bringing in Indian workers, but the approval is limited.

As states like Haryana and UP begin the recruitment process, trade union activists have accused the Centre of bypassing the safety rules meant for workers going to conflict zones

Expressing "great satisfaction" at the achievements of 30 years of full diplomatic ties between India and Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has said that it is time for the two nations to "re-accelerate" their relations in various fields to strengthen the strategic partnership.