Cyber security, big data new areas of India-Israel cooperation: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale
Mr. Netanyahu, who is on a six-day visit, dubbed India-Israel relationship as a “marriage made in heaven.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on a six-day visit during which he will hold extensive talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, who received him at the airport, setting aside protocol.
Mr. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second by an Israeli Prime Minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. Ahead of his departure from Israel, Mr. Netanyahu said, “We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power [India].” “This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the state of Israel,” he added.
On Sunday, Mr. Modi and Mr. Netanyahu attended a ceremony to rename Teen Murti Chowk in central Delhi as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the Israeli Prime Minister. Later, Mr. Modi hosted a private dinner for Mr. Netanyahu and his wife Sara.
"New areas" of India-Israel cooperation
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was moved by the gesture of naming Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said during a press briefing.
Mr. Gokhale touched on the various issues that were discussed between the two Prime Ministers. "Oil and gas sector and cyber security will be new areas of India-Israel cooperation," he said.
'Big data' will be used to improved agriculture cooperation with Israel, said Mr. Gokhale, adding that 'Big data' from India was brought up by Israel to influence individual farmer's efforts, yield, water use. "India's agriculture ministry to discuss 'big data' use with Israel soon," he said.
India and Israel will also hold conference on women working in the fields of science, maths, technology, Secretary Gokhale added.
Defence cooperation was discussed between two leaders, but the details are not be shared, our correspondent Kallol Bhattacharjee reports Secretary Gokhale as saying.
"The Palestinian issue was discussed. India explained the Indian position on Jerusalem and Palestine. The India-Israel dialogue [will] not [be] influenced by single issue," Mr. Gokhale said.
India and Israel on Monday inked nine pacts to boost cooperation in key areas, including cybersecurity and energy. The agreements were signed after extensive talks between Mr. Modi and Mr. Netanyahu for bolstering bilateral ties in strategic areas. The two Prime Ministers, accompanied by their respective senior Cabinet colleagues, held delegation-level talks during which they also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The nine pacts were signed in the areas of cybersecurity, petroleum, air transport, research in homoeopathy, film co-production, space science, business investment, metal-air batteries and solar thermal technology.
Dubbing the India-Israel relationship as a “marriage made in heaven”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that even though Israel was “disappointed” by India’s vote at the UN against the Jerusalem issue, one negative vote would not affect the ties.
Mr. Netanyahu said he hoped that his visit to India would strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various areas like technology,agriculture and other spheres that were changing the world.
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