India, Israel conclude second round of FTA talks, reaffirm commitment to early agreement
New Delhi, July 24
India and Israel have concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed Free Trade Agreement, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to work towards the early conclusion of a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and economic ties.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the four-day negotiations were held from July 20 to 23 at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. During the discussions, both sides reviewed all areas of the proposed agreement and made further progress towards the proposed FTA.
The ministry said technical experts from both countries held detailed discussions on a wide range of areas, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, customs procedures and trade facilitation, economic cooperation and other chapters under the proposed agreement.
It said the discussions were "constructive and forward-looking", with both sides engaging in detailed technical deliberations aimed at narrowing gaps and identifying areas of convergence.
During the opening session, India's Chief Negotiator and Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ajay Bhadoo, reaffirmed India's commitment to negotiating a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Israel's Chief Negotiator, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director, Trade Policy and Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner at the Foreign Trade Administration, Ministry of Economy and Industry, welcomed the progress made since the first round of negotiations and emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum towards achieving an ambitious and mutually beneficial outcome.
The ministry said the negotiations continue to be guided by the Terms of Reference signed by the two countries in November 2025, which provide the framework for discussions across identified areas to strengthen bilateral trade, economic cooperation and the overall economic partnership.
According to the ministry, total merchandise trade between India and Israel stood at USD 3.93 billion in FY 2025-26. It said the two countries have strong complementarities across several sectors, and the proposed FTA is expected to create further opportunities to expand bilateral trade, investment and economic integration. Both sides reiterated their commitment to continue negotiations and work towards the early conclusion of the agreement.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Israel is a key partner in defense and technology. This FTA could be a win-win for both nations. India has a huge market and Israel has cutting-edge innovation. But we should be careful about the terms - especially in agriculture where Israeli technology could complement rather than compete with our farmers.
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Free trade agreements often end up favoring bigger economies. India needs to ensure our MSMEs and small farmers aren't hit hard. Also, with ongoing conflicts in West Asia, we must consider geopolitical risks. But if done right, it could boost our pharma and IT sectors. Need more transparency on the terms discussed.
Israel's water management solutions could be a game changer for India's drought-prone areas. And their defense tech is world-class. This is a strategic partnership that goes beyond trade. Just hope the deal is comprehensive and covers services too - Indian IT professionals could benefit in Israeli markets.
The previous rounds weren't very productive. Hope this time they actually finalize something concrete. India needs to push for easier visa norms for professionals and students. And we should leverage Israel's R&D in cybersecurity and AI. But please, no compromises on our food security or dairy sector - that's non-negotiable.
Israel has shown how a small nation can become a tech powerhouse. India can learn a lot from their startup ecosystem and innovation culture. An FTA could facilitate more joint ventures. Just hope the agreement addresses issues like intellectual property rights properly - especially for our pharma companies. 👍
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