Exclusive: Nir Barkat, Israel’s Economy Minister Says Looking For An FTA With India

Israel is looking to deepen its economic and trade ties with India. In an exclusive conversation with India Today Group’s Gaurav Sawant, the Israeli Minister of Economy Nir Barkat said that relationship with India creates huge opportunities for Israeli companies and India’s expanding global influence gives Israeli companies an edge. Pushing for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, the 65-year-old Israeli minister said the special government-to-government and people-to-people relation between Israel and India gives way to a prosperous business-to-business relationship. Bilateral trade between the two countries fell to $6.53 billion in FY24 from $10.77 bn a year ago due to security issues and trade route disruptions, but according to Barkat, trade between India and Israel is a win-win proposition for both.