Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is scheduled to travel to India next week for discussions with top Indian officials regarding bilateral projects and regional updates. The visit, set for November 4 and 5 in New Delhi, will involve meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, among others, as revealed by a source from Israel to news agency PTI.
Despite ongoing regional challenges, Israel has witnessed several significant visits to India in the past two years. Notable figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Economy Nir Barkat, Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, and Tourism Minister Haim Katz have all visited India recently.
During Smotrich’s visit in September, India and Israel inked a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to deepen economic and financial ties and provide assurance to investors from both nations through international best practices and safeguards. This agreement aims to enhance investor confidence by ensuring a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination, along with establishing a dispute resolution mechanism through arbitration.
Israel has established BITs with more than 15 countries since 2000, including the UAE, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and South Africa. Barkat, leading a substantial economic delegation, visited India earlier in February.
With Israel facing a shortage of workers in various sectors, the country has sought assistance from India. The current Indian workforce in Israel stands at approximately 40,000, with expectations of several thousand more joining in the near future.
Sa’ar and Jaishankar previously met in February during the Munich Security Conference to discuss strategic matters, including US President Donald Trump’s vision of linking Asia, Europe, and the US via Israel. They also addressed challenges posed by disruptions on trade routes by Yemen’s Houthis and Iran.
During the G20 summit in 2023, a significant infrastructure project was announced to connect India to Europe through the Middle East, described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a transformative endeavor that will have global impact. Trump had also expressed interest in expanding the project further to the US.
The upcoming visit by Foreign Minister Sa’ar signifies the ongoing cooperation and strategic dialogue between Israel and India, focusing on enhancing economic ties and addressing regional challenges.