PM Modi to visit Israel this month, official dates likely to be announced soon: Report – Firstpost

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Israel later this month, and the official dates of the visit will be announced soon, according to a report by News18.

The report has mentioned sources as saying that the groundwork for the upcoming trip has already been laid, and the two governments are making necessary arrangements for PM Modi’s visit.

The upcoming visit will prioritise forward-looking partnerships, particularly in the fields of science and technology, defence innovation, and quantum computing. Efforts will also focus on cybersecurity and advanced agriculture, all sectors where the existing collaboration between India and Israel has already produced significant, real-world results.

During PM Modi’s visit to the country, both countries are expected to sign multiple MoUs, covering culture, defence cooperation, science and technology, cyber security, and quantum research.

Last month, the State Bank of India (SBI), the only Indian bank with a presence in Israel, said it is looking to facilitate bilateral trade in Indian rupees.

“In view of India’s significant trade flows from/to its partner countries and growing interest among the global trading community to trade in the Indian rupee, it has been envisaged by our banking regulators, i.e. Reserve Bank of India, to permit Indian banks to facilitate settlement of exports and imports of their respective corporate clientele in INR. Israel has been identified as one of the partner countries under this mechanism,” CEO of SBI Israel, V Manivannan, told PTI.

India-Israel ties

PM Modi’s landmark visit to Israel in July 2017 marked a turning point in bilateral ties, making him the first Indian prime minister to travel to the country. Since then, India and Israel have significantly expanded cooperation in areas including defence and security, advanced technology, agriculture, water management and innovation.

Defence ties have deepened in particular, with Israel now among India’s top three arms suppliers, alongside growing collaboration in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity and intelligence sharing.

Speculation over a possible PM Modi visit gained traction earlier this month after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to meet the Indian leader “in the near future”.