Israel Minister Yair Shamir concludes visit to Vibrant Gujarat

During his visit, Minister Shamir met Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar and discussed with him the strong relations between the two countries in various fields.

The Indian premier recalled during the meeting his visit to Israel in 2006 and his impression from the Israeli capabilities in the field of agriculture and food security.

Shamir participated on Sunday as the key note speaker at the Theme Seminar titled "Innovation and Technology in Food Processing for Sustaining Food Security" and shared Israel’s experience in this field.

During the summit, Shamir also met with Minister of State for Agriculture of India, Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya and together they reviewed the Joint Agriculture Project implemented by MASHAV, MIDH and various states across India.

During the meeting, Israel and India had signed on a joint declaration "the Indo-Israel Agricultural Cooperation Project entering its third phase" in order to extend the existing cooperation.

The IIAP is an outcome of two joint Action Plans under the framework of the Agreement of Cooperation in Agriculture between India and Israel, signed in January 2008 and second-extended at 2011.

The Ministers acknowledged the importance of completing the establishment and activation of all 29 Centers of Excellence in 10 states defined in the second phase of the project and the need to establish new Centers within existing clusters in additional States. 

The purpose of those Centers is to introduce Israeli technology adapted to the local conditions and requirements of each state in region, in order to increase the productivity of the local farmers.

The Ministers also recognized the importance of the need to extend the existing cooperation and include new technologies such as Post Harvest Management, good agricultural practices, dairy production and Water for Agriculture.

The Israeli minister also visited one of those Centers of Excellence in Vadrad Village in the district of Sabarkantha, Gujarat and received a comprehensive tour and explanation from the Indian staff of the Center of Excellence on the work being done in the center.

Minister Shamir also met Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Industries and discussed possible ways to extend the fruitful cooperation between Israel and India in food security.

Badal also visited the Israeli Pavilion and was able to see first-hand and experience some of Israeli technologies in water and agriculture exhibited there.

On Monday, Israel conducted a country seminar focusing on Water Recycling, Irrigation Panel, Post-Harvest Management and Dairy with the participation of the Israeli companies and dozens of Indian and foreign companies.

Israel's Country Pavilion at the summit entitled "I4 - Israel Innovation In India" focusing on agriculture, water and homeland security is also open for the public.