Terming India as a “close friend”, Israel President Reuven Rivlin has started his six-day visit to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries and that he had said, were places of “innovation and inspiration”. Rivlin, will join the President Pranab Mukherjee in opening an agro-tech conference and hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and visit sites of cooperation and joint projects between the two countries. Rivlin, who will be accompanied by his wife.
“I am departing now on an important visit to India, an important ally and close friend of Israel, a state with whom we have much in common,” Rivlin said.
“Israel and India are both countries of innovation and of inspiration. Countries that have ancient traditions, but have built strong and thriving hi-tech economies, and now celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations. This visit is a sign of the strong relations and friendship between our peoples, and I hope will plant the seeds for that friendship to grow closer and closer,” he said.
“The issue of international cooperation in higher education and the expansion of academic ties between Israel and the world – in particular with India – is one of the central aims of the multi-year plan for higher education in Israel,” said Yaffa Zilbershats, head the Council for Higher Education’s budget committee.
“India represents a great challenge for Israeli to strengthen cooperation and partnership with their Indian counterparts,” said Shraga Brosh, President of Manufacturers Association of Israel, who is heading the business delegation.
“I have no doubt that this will be a fruitful visit and forge long-lasting economic partnerships which will strengthen and help grow the bilateral trade between the countries”, Brosh said.
By Premji
