Israel is looking at enhancing trade ties with India in a major way. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins his six days visit to India on January 14, he will be accompanied by a large business delegation. Series of business events have been lined up as Netanyahu makes a return visit after PM Narendra Modi visited Israel last year.
Currently trade between the two countries is around 5 billion US dollars, of which three billions is for exports.
Netanyahu and Modi will participate in business events in Delhi and Ahmedabad, while the former will participate in separate business event in Mumbai. During this hectic schedule, Netanyahu is also visiting Agra to see Taj Mahal. In Delhi, both the prime ministers will hold bilateral dialogue and later attend a CEO forum and business event. Netanyahu will attend the annual Raisina Dialogue, a geopolitical conference in Delhi.
Modi will then take his counterpart to visit Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. Like trademark PM events, there will be roadshow from airport to the Sabarmati Ashram. Modi, along with Japanese premier Shinzo Abe, had held a joint roadshow in September.
There will be a business meet in Gujarat. Netanyahu will also visit Centre of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Centre of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conference. They will also visit the innovation centre.
But his engagements in Mumbai are likely to create a buzz. The visiting dignitary will meet the Jewish community leaders. It was in Mumbai that Chabad house had come under attack during the terror attacks in 2008. Israeli PM will woo Bollywood in a 'Shalom Bollywood' event. This is being done to invite the Bollywood to shoot films in Israel.
Netanyahu's visit comes in the wake of India voting against the US in the United Nations over it recognising Jerusalem as its capital. But booming relations between India and Israel would overlook them, sources said.
