The Hindu Business Line : India, Israel likely to start formal talks for FTA soon

Kolkata, July 4 India and Israel could soon start formal negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, according to Mr Mark Sofer, Ambassador of Israel. The idea of having an FTA between the two nations, which was mooted three years ago, has been positively received, he said.

“Though we have not started formal negotiations there is complete agreement on both sides,” he said. Mr Sofer, who was in the city on Thursday, met with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. During his address to the media later, he said that both countries had a vibrant and strong defence relationship and by having an FTA can develop co-operation on the economic front.

Israel-India trade, which currently stands at $3.3-3.5 billion, is expected to grow to $12 billion in the next four years. “Some experts opine that Indo-Israel trade will triple or even quadruple in some years,” he said.

On the education front, a delegation of six Vice-Chancellors is planning to make a visit to Israel to sign memorandum of understanding with 6-7 major universities there. “The Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and Delhi University will be a part of that delegation. They will look for possible areas of signing MoU with the universities in Israel,” he said.

In his meeting with Mr Bhattacharya , the Israel Ambassador discussed the various areas of co-operation between Israel and West Bengal. “Issues such as agriculture, water management and irrigation have been tackled well by Israel and we can co-operate with the State to improve on these lines,” he said.

Medical and public health and horticulture management could be other areas of co-operation between the two countries, he pointed out.

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