Narendra Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish nation, is on a three-day visit to Israel.
After a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, India and Israel announced a strategic partnership between the two countries, and signed seven agreements in the fields of water, agriculture, space, including a $40 million joint fund for research and development in innovation.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Netanyahu addressed a gathering of about 5,000 Israelis of Indian origin at a convention centre in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, where Mr. Modi promised a new Air India flight connecting both countries.
In his speech, Mr. Modi recalled several Jewish Indians who had served in India, including General JFR Jacob, and hundreds of Indians who worked to “make the desert bloom” in Israel in farming jobs.
Mr. Modi, on Wednesday, also met Moshe, the young survivor of the Chabad House killings during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks of 2008. The family, along with Moshe’s nanny Sandra Samuel, who escaped from the Chabad House at Nariman point with an infant Moshe and then moved to Israel to help bring him up, met the two Prime Ministers for an emotional meeting at the PM’s hotel. During the meeting with Moshe, now 11 years old, Mr. Modi offered him and the family long-term visas to visit India “any time.
The Hindu 's Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar will be giving updates from the field.
Here are the live updates for the day:
7.50 p.m. (IST): Mr. Modi leaves for Germany to attend G20 summit.
6.30 p.m.: The two PMs attend the first meet of India-Israel CEOs Forum.
The two PMs attend the first meet of India-Israel CEOs Forum
Gopal Baglay, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs tweeted Mr. Modi's speech at the business meet:
Mr. Modi said: "Israel is known as Start-up nation. It has a unique sense & ecosystem of innovation & incubation. Credit must go to the Israeli entrepreneurs. There is lot of potential for India-Israel partnership in Start Up India. I am happy that India-Isreal start-up bridge has been formally launched today.
We are positioning India as a global manufacturing hub. This is necessary for us to take advantage of youth energy. For this we've launched Make in India. We have resolved number of regulatory & policy issues facing businesses & companies. We've worked very sincerely for ease of doing business.
GST is by far the biggest business & economic reform of India. Now,we're moving towards modern tax regime, which is transparent,stable & predictable."
4.30 p.m.: Mr. Modi viewed a demo of a tech pioneered by Israel for desalination of sea water & purification in disaster-hit & remote areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Israel counterpart at Olga Beach, Israel.
@PMO India tweeted about this unit, "Gal-Mobile is an independent, integrated water purification vehicle, designed to produce high-quality drinking water. It can be useful in natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, military use in difficult terrain & rural areas to provide drinkable water.
It can purify up to 20,000 litres/day of sea water & 80,000 litres/day of brackish/muddy or contaminated river water and bring it to WHO standards."
1:45 p.m.: Mr. Modi visited the Indian cemetery in the Israeli city of Haifa and paid homage to Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the World War 1 while protecting the city from the powerful forces of the Ottoman Empire.
“This is the final resting place for 44 of the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I to liberate the city,” Modi had said before visiting the site.
12.00 p.m.: On Wednesday, India and Israel signed agreements on water conservation and recycling, where Israel’s technology is considered the most advanced. Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources, tells The Hindu , its technology and best practices will both be useful to India, beginning with Uttar Pradesh.
11.30 a.m.: Here is the schedule of Mr. Modi on his third day in Israel. (All local time)
1040 hrs: Wreath Laying at Haifa Cemetery and Unveiling of plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh
1130 hrs: Demonstration of mobile water filtration plant
1315 hrs: Technology exhibition and CEO Business Roundtable, Tel Aviv
1535 hrs: Interaction with Indian students
After this Mr. Modi will fly for Hamburg at 1640 hrs.
Published - July 06, 2017 01:59 pm IST
