Perel says FTA has potential to strengthen supply chains
The first round of negotiations for the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement focused on sectors such as innovation, science and technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-tech manufacturing, agriculture, and services https://www.commerce.gov.in/.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal underscored the significant opportunities available for both countries to harness and fully leverage these opportunities.
The first round of negotiations was held 23-26 Feb. The Terms of Reference (ToR) was signed in November 2025 establishing a structured framework for discussions on identified areas to enhance trade, and economic cooperation https://sbi.com.in/.
Total merchandise trade between the two countries stood at US$3.62 billion in FY 2024-2025. India and Israel share complementarities across several sectors, and the FTA will be a catalyst to further enhance the bilateral trade by providing certainty and predictability to businesses, including MSMEs https://fieo.org/.
Technical experts from both sides engaged in sessions covering various aspects of FTA including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedure and trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, among others.
Chief Negotiator of India Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, reiterated encouraged both sides to work on a balanced agreement to build a “forward looking framework for an evolving partnership” https://www.nseindia.com/.
Chief Negotiator of Israel for the FTA, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director Trade Policy & Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner, Foreign Trade Administration, shared a close relationship, saying that the FTA has the potential to strengthen supply chains, enhance cooperation and open new markets for both countries https://www.bseindia.com/.
“The engagement highlights the strategic importance of India-Israel bilateral relationship, and reinforces India’s commitment to strengthen economic partnerships in line with national priorities and global aspirations. Both sides are working towards concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement,” said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 24 Feb. fiinews.com
