Jerusalem/New Delhi, Oct 18 : India and Israel have agreed to resume negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement from next month and also agreed in principle on mutual recognition of their Covid vaccination certification, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday after holding “very productive” talks with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid.
Israel also joined the International Solar Alliance on Monday.
In tweets, he said:
“Very productive talks today with APM and FM @YairLapid.
“Discussed a wide range of regional and global issues.
“Agreed to resume FTA negotiations next month.
“Agreed in principle on mutual recognition of Covid vaccination certification.”
“Welcomed Israel as newest member of International Solar Alliance,” he posted.
Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar signed the agreement for joining the International Solar Alliance.
In his remarks prior to the talks, Jaishankar said that negotiations on the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement will start in November and that officials from both sides “are very confident that they would be able to conclude the negotiations by next June. So it’s something that we very much look forward to.”
He said that both sides are working on travel in the Covid era. “So I know that in principle, we have agreed on, mutual recognition of our vaccine certification process. And while we are working that out in the interim, Israel would allow people with Covishield vaccines to travel to Israel,” he added.
He also voiced happiness at the inauguration of the Women and STEM mini conference on November 24, where women scientists from both sides would be participating. “I think that’s again a very rich, very representative of the direction in which our relationship has moved,” he added.
He also hoped to have an early opportunity of welcoming both Lapid and Elharrar to India.
Referring to his meeting with the Israeli Chambers of Commerce on Sunday night, he said during the meeting “we discussed the possibilities in innovation, digital, green growth, and health between our two economies. So I am very confident about our relationship actually, as we approach its 30th year of upgradation to actually shift gears and move into a new phase.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry in tweets on the talks between Jaishankar and Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel Yair Lapid, said:
“Today, Israeli Foreign Minister @yairlapid and his Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar
concluded a successful meeting at @IsraelMFA.
“In their presence, Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar officially signed the agreement of joining the International Solar Alliance.
“Some key points of the meeting:
“Resume negotiations on FTA (free trade agreement) agreement between the two countries.
“Mutual recognition of the vaccination certificates.
“Enhance cooperation in the fields of water and agriculture,” it posted.
India proposed a Free Trade Agreement with Israel in 2010. The two sides held the eighth round of negotiations in Israel in November 2013. The main focus of the FTA is in areas like information technology, biotechnology, and agriculture.
Jaishankar arrived on Sunday on a five-day official visit to Israel at the invitation of Yair Lapid.
He is to call on President Isaac Herzog, and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
This is his first visit to Israel as External Affairs Minister.
