Tel Aviv: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel has elevated India–Israel bilateral relations to a new strategic high. During the visit, Israel conferred its highest parliamentary honour upon him, and he became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset.
The visit reaffirmed the growing depth of cooperation between the two nations across agriculture, technology, defence and innovation.
Foundation of Partnership: The 2006 Visit
According to accounts shared by “Modi Story,” the roots of the India–Israel partnership trace back to 2006 when Narendra Modi visited Israel as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
At the time, his focus was on improving agricultural productivity and water efficiency. He studied Israel’s advanced irrigation systems, greenhouse farming, wastewater recycling, dairy development and high-value agriculture models.
Following this visit, the vision of “Per Drop More Crop” became an integral part of Gujarat’s water and agriculture policy, later influencing national-level initiatives.
2017 Visit: A Strategic Leap
A decade later, in 2017, PM Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to undertake a standalone bilateral visit to Israel.
This landmark visit expanded cooperation beyond agriculture to include:
- Digital innovation
- Advanced manufacturing
- Defence collaboration
- Cybersecurity
- Emerging technologies
The visit marked a shift from sectoral cooperation to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Business and Technology Collaboration
Industry leaders have acknowledged the impact of closer ties. Baba Kalyani, Managing Director of Bharat Forge, noted that collaborations during this phase provided exposure to applying digital technologies, IoT and artificial intelligence across manufacturing and agriculture.
The strong personal rapport between PM Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has further strengthened trust and accelerated cooperation between Indian and Israeli companies.
Continuity and Deeper Engagement
What began in 2006 with agricultural innovation has now evolved into a broad-based strategic partnership grounded in technology, shared values and mutual trust.
Analysts observe that PM Modi’s sustained engagement and consistent dialogue have brought continuity and depth to India–Israel relations, positioning both countries as key partners in innovation, defence, water management and advanced technology sectors.
The latest visit to Tel Aviv underscores the maturity of the partnership and signals continued expansion of bilateral cooperation in the years ahead.
