Piyush Goyal’s Visit to Israel Boosts Economic Diplomacy and Strengthens Technology Partnerships

New Delhi, November 27, 2025.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal concluded a highly productive visit to Israel from 20 to 22 November 2025, reinforcing the growing momentum in India–Israel economic diplomacy. His engagements reflected a shared commitment to deepening trade ties, accelerating technology collaborations, and opening new opportunities for businesses and innovators in both countries.

High-Level Engagements Strengthen Strategic Cooperation

During his visit, Piyush Goyal met Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat, Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Avi Dichter. He also called on the President of Israel Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These meetings demonstrated the strategic value of the India–Israel partnership—one built on mutual trust, shared priorities, and strong complementarities across technology, agriculture, defence, science, and innovation.

Progress on the India–Israel Free Trade Agreement

A major highlight of the visit was the signing of the Terms of Reference for the India–Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This milestone initiates structured negotiations aimed at a balanced and future-ready agreement that will expand India–Israel trade across key sectors. With both nations deeply connected through innovation and technology, the FTA is expected to enhance market access, encourage new investments, and strengthen economic resilience.

Expanding Opportunities for Businesses and Skilled Workers

Discussions with Israel’s finance leadership focused on expanding opportunities for Indian companies in infrastructure, mining, and industrial development. The exchanges also included Israel’s growing interest in skilled Indian workers, reflecting India’s credibility and expertise in global labour markets. Conversations on agriculture centred on Israel’s advanced seed-improvement systems, long-term food security strategies, and leadership in agricultural water reuse—areas where collaboration can significantly impact India’s agricultural transformation.

Business Forum and CEOs Forum Deepen Commercial Links

The India–Israel Business Forum and the CEOs Forum formed another key pillar of the visit. Both forums saw strong participation from industry leaders and facilitated over 250 B2B meetings. Addressing the business community, Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s vast potential for Israeli innovators, particularly in cybersecurity, water technology, agritech, pharmaceuticals, fintech, AI, quantum computing, defence, and space technologies. His message underlined that India is not only one of the world’s fastest-growing economies but also a vital hub for innovation-driven partnerships.

Technology Collaboration with Leading Israeli Innovators

Throughout the visit, Goyal held focused meetings with leaders of top Israeli technology companies including Check Point, IDE Technologies, NTA, and Netafim. These discussions explored collaborative opportunities in cybersecurity infrastructure, desalination and wastewater management, metro and urban mobility systems, and precision agriculture. Each of these sectors aligns closely with India’s development priorities and strengthens the foundation for long-term India–Israel technology collaboration.

Insights from Israel’s Innovation Ecosystem

To gain deeper understanding of Israel’s innovation landscape, Goyal visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, where he explored advancements that define Israel’s global reputation as a technology powerhouse. He also experienced an autonomous-driving demonstration by Mobileye, showcasing Israel’s leadership in next-generation mobility solutions. At Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, he examined community-driven sustainable agriculture practices that offer valuable insights for India’s efforts to modernise rural development.

Community Engagements and Cultural Connections

The visit included meaningful interactions with the Indian business delegation, media representatives, the diamond community, and members of the Indian diaspora. Goyal visited culturally significant locations such as the Israel Museum and the Indian Hospice, reinforcing the people-centered dimension of India–Israel relations. A gala reception hosted by Economy Minister Nir Barkat and a community gathering organised by the Embassy of India in Israel highlighted the warmth and mutual respect that continue to define the partnership.

Commitment to Expanding Strategic and Economic Cooperation

On the final day, Goyal met President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to share the outcomes of the Business Forum and outline next steps for deepening cooperation. Both leaders expressed strong support for expanding collaboration in agriculture, water technologies, defence, cybersecurity, science and technology, and innovation. Their discussions reflected the broad scope and growing ambition of India–Israel strategic cooperation.

A Strong Foundation for Future Growth

More than sixty Indian companies accompanied the minister and undertook site visits across Israel’s innovation ecosystem. These visits included cybersecurity facilities at Check Point, healthcare centres at Sheba Hospital, research labs at the Peres Center, and agricultural sites showcasing sustainable farming practices. These engagements opened new pathways for joint ventures, technology exchange, and business expansion.

Piyush Goyal’s visit has given a major boost to India–Israel economic diplomacy, reinforcing the shared vision of a resilient, innovative, and technology-driven partnership. With advancing FTA negotiations, stronger business linkages, and a renewed focus on innovation-led cooperation, both countries are well-positioned to enter a transformative new era of strategic and economic collaboration. The visit reaffirmed India’s expanding global footprint and Israel’s commitment to building a partnership rooted in innovation, trust, and long-term growth.