Overview
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Economy Minister Nir Barkat signed the Terms of Reference on Nov. 20–21, formally restarting negotiations on a long-discussed free trade pact.
- The framework maps work on tariff and non-tariff barrier reduction, simplified customs procedures, services liberalization, investment facilitation, and cooperation on innovation and technology transfer.
- Barkat called the partnership a win-win and highlighted India’s scale as a gateway to Asia, while Goyal framed the ToR as a first step toward a balanced, comprehensive agreement.
- An Israel–India Business Summit and CEO Forum in Tel Aviv mobilized major industry bodies and company leaders to identify priorities and help translate the agenda into projects.
- Goyal promoted deeper startup links, including a possible startup bridge, and held sectoral meetings covering cybersecurity, medtech, mobility, and agritech, including talks with Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter on precision farming, drip irrigation and desert agriculture.