Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel has given fresh momentum to India–Israel ties, elevating the partnership to a more structured and strategic level. During the two-day visit, both nations agreed to formally upgrade their long-standing cooperation to a “Special Strategic Partnership.” A total of 17 agreements were concluded, and 10 major announcements were made, outlining expanded collaboration across agriculture, fisheries, artificial intelligence, education, financial services, labour mobility and cyber security.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi held detailed discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. The talks focused on accelerating bilateral engagement, strengthening economic and technological collaboration, and enhancing coordination on regional and global issues. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening and stabilising the partnership in the years ahead.
One of the major highlights of the visit was the emphasis on agricultural cooperation. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Israel’s development cooperation agency MASHAV agreed to establish a joint India–Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture. The proposed centre will promote collaboration in precision farming, satellite-based irrigation, advanced farm mechanisation, integrated pest management, post-harvest technologies and capacity building. In addition, 20 joint research fellowships have been announced to encourage scientists and researchers from both countries to work together on cutting-edge agricultural technologies.
The two countries also decided to enhance cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture. The partnership will focus on sustainable and technology-driven fishery systems, disease management, mariculture and seaweed cultivation. Joint projects will be developed through Centres of Excellence to increase productivity while maintaining ecological balance.
Labour mobility was another key area of discussion. Both sides agreed to expand employment avenues for Indian workers in sectors such as commerce, services, manufacturing and hospitality in Israel. It was also announced that significant employment opportunities would be created for Indian workers over the next five years. Overall, the visit has infused new energy into India–Israel relations, laying a strong foundation for long-term cooperation in agriculture, technology, innovation and workforce development.
