“India Gateway To Asia”- Israel prepares free trade agreement with Delhi

Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat expressed optimism about a Free Trade Agreement between India and Israel as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Israel. In a special interview with NDTV, Barkat referred to India as “a gateway to Asia” and suggested that the long-anticipated trade agreement could happen sooner than expected. “It’s really exciting. All of Israel loves India and the Indian people. We cherish the relationship between our peoples,” Barkat stated, highlighting the strong bond between the two democracies. He emphasized the significance of the friendship between Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “The fact that they get along so well really matters.” On trade matters, Barkat indicated that negotiations are advancing quickly. “We have a team from Israel in India working on the free trade agreement,” he noted, explaining that progress increased after India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Israel late last year. “We realized we want to move quickly... We aim to achieve something significant this year, and I believe it can happen.” When asked about timelines, especially with India’s growing trade connections with countries like the US, UK, New Zealand, and Oman, Barkat remained hopeful. “Hopefully so,” he mentioned regarding a target for 2026, adding with a smile, “This puzzle can be solved.” Barkat explained why India’s economy is vital for Israel, describing their relationship as mutually beneficial. “We are innovative with new ideas and cutting-edge technology, but we are a small country with only 10 million people,” he said. “It’s hard for us to grow at the scale that India can manage.”