The first round of India-Israel FTA negotiations has begun in New Delhi and will run till February 26, coinciding with PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. The proposed pact aims to boost bilateral trade, strengthen supply chains and create new opportunities across key sectors
PM Modi to visit Israel on 25-26 February amid India-Israel FTA. File pic
The first round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has begin in Delhi and will continue until February 26 as PM Modi is scheduled to visit Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the ongoing negotiations, will also be meeting Israeli counterparts on February 25-26.
The ministry said that the timing of the talks provides fresh momentum to deepen economic ties between the two countries, reported IANS.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the agreement were signed in November 2025, creating a structured framework for discussions aimed at expanding trade and economic cooperation.
The FTA between India and Israel is expected to provide greater certainty and predictability to businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and help unlock new opportunities across sectors.
Trade between India and Israel stood at USD 3.62 billion in 2014-25
According to the reports, the total merchandise trade between India and Israel stood at USD 3.62 billion in FY 2024-25. Both countries have complementary strengths in areas such as innovation, science and technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-tech manufacturing, agriculture and services.
The ministry also believes that the agreement could significantly boost bilateral trade by leveraging these synergies.
During the opening session, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said, “Negotiations had started at an opportune time, aligning with the Prime Minister’s visit to Israel,” as per IANS.
He further highlighted the strong potential for collaboration in advanced technology sectors and said the FTA would help both sides fully utilise emerging opportunities. Technical experts from both countries are participating in detailed discussions during this round.
India-Israel FTA talks focus on trade, supply chains and market access
The talks between the two countries cover a wide range of issues, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures and trade facilitation, and intellectual property rights.
India’s Chief Negotiator Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, stressed, “The importance of building a balanced and forward-looking agreement that reflects the evolving partnership between the two nations.”
On the other hand, Israel’s Chief Negotiator Yifat Alon Perel said, “The FTA has the potential to strengthen supply chains, enhance cooperation and open new markets for both countries.”
(With inputs from IANS)
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