India, Israel sign 7 pacts

After a wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides signed seven pacts covering areas like innovation, water conservation, agriculture and space. There was, however, no fresh pact on defence, except a reaffirmation to focus on joint development of defence products, including transfer of technology from Israel, with a special emphasis on the 'Make in India' initiative and a commitment to promote security and stability in cyberspace.

The MoU signed between the Department of Science & Technology, India and National Technological Innovation Authority, Israel for setting up of India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund worth $40 million. Both sides will contribute $20 million each. Officials privy to negotiations said the MoU will play a seminal role in enabling Indian and Israeli enterprises to undertake joint R&D projects leading to development of innovative technologies and products that have potential for commercial application.

Analysts here, however, say three pacts related to establish a 'Strategic Partnership in Water and Agriculture' are a major take-away of the Modi's visit. "Media may have been looking for headlines on defence and security issues, but Israeli knowledge on water conservation and agriculture is most sought after," the official said. Israel is one of the only countries in the world that has created an efficient infrastructure of water supply and conservation that it can function without rain — unheard in India, where agriculture and economy is dependent on weather gods. Israel is a major exporter of fresh produce and a world-leader in agricultural technologies despite the fact that vast sheaths of the tiny country is desert — thus not conducive for any produce. An Israeli expert put it out that when the Jewish country came up in 1948, there were no resources either on ground (water) or below the ground (oil). "But we build the country by using resources between our ears," he added.

The countries also agreed on a programme on India-Israel Development Cooperation in Agriculture between 2018-2020.

Both sides in a joint statement have called it a 'Strategic Partnership in Water and Agriculture'. "This will focus on water conservation, waste-water treatment and its reuse for agriculture, desalination, water utility reforms, and the cleaning of the Ganges and other rivers using advanced water technologies," the joint statement added.

The MoYs also included the reinforcement and expansion of the existing Centres of Excellence (COE) under the stewardship of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MASHAV) and the Ministry of Agriculture of India to promote commercially viable business models involving Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs); the provision of quality planting material; and the transfer of post-harvest technical know-how and market linkages involving the private sector. The two leaders also agreed on the establishment of a Joint Working Group to steer this Partnership.

Besides this strategic partnership, there are three more MoUs on cooperation in space. They include a plan of cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Israel Space Agency (ISA) regarding cooperation in Atomic Clocks. These clocks are the most accurate time and frequency standards known, and are used as primary standards for international time distribution services, to control the wave frequency of television broadcasts, and in global navigation satellite systems. Other MoUs include MoU between ISRO and ISA regarding cooperation in GEO-LEO Optical Link and an agreement on cooperation in Electric Propulsion for Small Satellites . The two leaders acknowledged that the recent launching by ISRO of an Israeli nano satellite is an important milestone in this arena.