New Delhi, Feb 8 – Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat, is set to lead the largest-ever multi-sectoral business delegation to India next week, marking a significant push toward strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations. This will be Barkat’s third official visit to New Delhi, underscoring Israel’s commitment to expanding bilateral trade.
The two-day visit begins on Monday, during which Barkat will hold high-level discussions with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, alongside top Indian business leaders and policymakers.
According to officials, over 100 Israeli companies—spanning key sectors such as healthcare, energy, cybersecurity, defence, homeland security (HLS), agritech, smart mobility, water technology, and food technology—will be part of the high-powered delegation.
The visit is being jointly coordinated by Israel’s Ministry of Economy & Industry and India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The delegation will see active participation from major Israeli business chambers, including the Israel Export Institute, Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, and The Manufacturers Association of Israel, while India’s FICCI and CII will lead from the Indian side.
The packed itinerary includes:
✅ Business forums
✅ B2B meetings with Indian companies
✅ An exclusive CEOs Forum appointed by both governments
✅ Investment promotion sessions by Invest India (under DPIIT)
✅ Industry roundtables and site visits
Additionally, the delegation will attend the India Energy Week—a key industry event happening in Delhi at the same time.
Boosting Trade Amid Regional Stability and Resumed Flights
With ceasefire agreements holding in Israel’s north and south, businesses are optimistic that the resumption of Air India flights on March 2 will further facilitate trade and investment between the two nations.
Barkat had previously expressed interest in bringing skilled Indian labor to Israel during his April 2023 visit. Since then, Israel has faced a severe labor shortage, worsened by the ongoing conflict that began with Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. In response, Israel has already welcomed 13,000 Indian workers in its construction sector and is actively working to bring in thousands more across various industries.
Expanding Beyond Diamonds: A New Era in India-Israel Trade
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, India-Israel trade was largely dominated by diamond transactions. However, in recent years, economic collaboration has diversified. Six key clusters have now been identified as areas of strategic focus:
1️⃣ Advanced Manufacturing
2️⃣ Climate & Desert Technology
3️⃣ Agritech & FoodTech
4️⃣ Defence & HLS
5️⃣ High-Tech Innovation
6️⃣ Life Sciences & Healthcare
This landmark visit is expected to set the stage for deeper economic ties, increased investment flows, and greater business collaboration between India and Israel.
