Piyush Goyal Meets Netanyahu In Israel; Pushes Free Trade Talks, Boosts Bilateral Ties

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials to strengthen economic, technological, and strategic ties between the two countries.

During his meetings, Goyal conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm regards to Netanyahu and updated him on discussions with Israel’s Minister of Economy Nir Barkat, as well as the outcomes of the Business Forum and CEOs Forum, which included over 60 Indian business leaders. The Union Minister is in Israel for a three-day visit.

I met today in Jerusalem with India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry, @PiyushGoyal.

Israel and India are strengthening our strategic partnership, more investments, more innovation, and a strong economic

corridor from India through Israel to Europe.

Together we are building… pic.twitter.com/4or3BZWU3v

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 23, 2025

A key highlight of the visit was the signing of the Terms of Reference to launch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and Israel. The FTA is expected to enhance trade, investment, and technology cooperation between the two nations.

Goyal also discussed leveraging Israel’s hi-tech expertise alongside India’s market scale and talent to strengthen innovation partnerships.

In addition, Goyal sought Netanyahu’s guidance on expanding collaboration in sectors such as agriculture, water management, defence, science, technology, and innovation. “We discussed ways to deepen bilateral economic and strategic engagement across multiple sectors,” Goyal wrote on X.

Netanyahu also shared on X, stating that the meeting reinforced the growing strategic partnership between India and Israel, aimed at boosting investments, innovation, and creating a robust economic corridor from India through Israel to Europe.

During his visit, Goyal held separate meetings with Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Avi Dichter, to explore agricultural cooperation. Dichter outlined Israel’s 25-year food security plan, its advanced seed improvement programmes, and expertise in water reuse and management for agriculture.

Earlier in the trip, Goyal met Minister Barkat to review the current trade trajectory and discuss potential areas for expansion.

(With inputs from agencies)