Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday played host to his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, in his home State of Gujarat. The visiting dignitary lavishly praised Mr. Modi, calling him “a leader with vision” while heralding the beginning of a new era in India-Israel relations and partnership.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, went on an 8-km roadshow from the Ahmedabad airport to Sabarmati Ashram. Thousands of spectators danced, clapped and waved as the motorcade drove past.
Dozens of two-storey-high posters with the smiling faces of both Prime Ministers were seen along the convoy route, as they drove together in an open vehicle, while artistes and schoolchildren performed dance shows in dozens of stands set up on the way.
Mr. Modi took the couple to the ashram where they paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and subsequently, flew kites standing on the Sabarmati riverfront.
Next, they flew off to Deo Dholera village to inaugurate the campus of iCreate, a new incubation and entrepreneurship centre to promote innovation.
Chanting Jai Hind, Jai Bharat and Jai Israel, Mr. Netanyahu expressed willingness to join Indian entrepreneurs for inclusive development.
“I am delighted to be here. The world knows about iPads and iPods. There is one more ‘i’ that the world needs to know about, that is iCreate. Israel wants to build partnership with you. We are your partners and I want Israeli youth to come to India,” he said, addressing a gathering of some 1,500 people comprising industrialists, entrepreneurs and businessmen.
“PM Modi and I are both very young and both very optimistic. We are young in our thinking and optimistic about the future of our countries,” Mr. Netanyahu added.
Mr. Modi underlined the importance of innovations, creativity and technology and Israel’s contribution.
“Israel has proved to the world that commitment of the people, not size of the nation takes the country forward. In India, we are working towards making the entire system innovation-friendly, so that ideas are formed from intent, innovations are formed from ideas & New India is formed from innovations.”
Water on tap
The two Prime Ministers also witnessed the demonstration of a vehicle that is equipped to conduct desalination of seawater. Designed with a modified jeep, the vehicle costs approximately $111,000. Mr. Modi said the vehicle would be stationed in the Banaskantha border district where the BSF and villagers can both benefit from it.
After inaugurating the innovation centre, both PMs flew down to Vadrad in Sabarkantha district to visit the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for vegetables set up with the help of the Israel Foreign Ministry.
