PM Modi-Benjamin Netanyahu tango delivers 9 key MoUs

While India and Israel on Monday signed nine MoUs across various fields to further strengthen bilateral relations, the major takeaways of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit focussed on innovation, business and setting up of a mechanism to share technologies related to agriculture, water management and cyber-security.

Both sides also announced commencement of three-year programme on boosting agricultural production and launch of nine R&D projects in the areas of big data analytics in health care and security in cyber space.  Both sides also announced to hold a symposium of women scientists, mathematicians and technologists in October 2018.

Netanyahu, who is on a six-day visit to India, received a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He said this is “the dawn of a new era in the friendship between India and Israel”.

A prominent example of India-Israel cooperation in agriculture was evident when he called on President Ram Nath Kovind. The olive tea that was served to the Israeli Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan was produced in Bikaner by Rajasthan Olive Cultivation Ltd, a joint venture between the Government of Rajasthan and Israeli partners. Netanyahu is visiting India to mark culmination of celebrations of  the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT

• Protocol between India and Israel on Amendments to the Air Transport Agreement
   
• It envisages entering into cooperative marketing arrangements, such as code share, bloc space or any other JV agreement.
   
• The protocol will also aim at operationalising the agreed services on the specified routes.

OIL AND GAS SECTOR

• MoU signed between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Energy
   
• Both sides looking to explore opportunities of long-term cooperative relationship and joint economic projects
   
• Also collaboration in upstream sector activities, R&D and Technology, promoting institutional linkages between Universities.

SOLAR THERMAL TECHNOLOGY

• Letter of Intent between IOCL and Yeda Research and Development Co Ltd for cooperation in the area of concentrated solar thermal technologies
   
• Intends to encourage joint research activities in the area of concentrated solar thermal technologies
   
• This include concentrated solar power generation, solar fuels, solar thermal storage materials, technologies, systems & concepts.

CO-PRODUCTION OF FILMS

• Envisages to establish a framework for encouraging all audio visual media output.
   
• Will specially target co-production of films for the benefit of the film industries of both the countries
   
• Aim is to contribute to the economic growth of the film, TV, video and new media production for further development of cultural and technologies ties.

IIST-TECHNION SPACE PACT

• MoU between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology for cooperation in the field of space
   
• Envisages for cooperation in the areas of mutual interest in the field of space by establishment of JWG for research, educational and training programmes.

METAL-AIR BATTERIES

• Letter of Intent between IOCL and Phinergy Ltd. For cooperation in the area of metal-air batteries
   
• Envisages to encourage joint R&D, deployment and manufacturing activities in the area of metal-air batteries
   
• Will help an array of applications, as stationary energy storage systems, electric mobility solutions etc.

INVEST INDIA & INVEST IN ISRAEL

• Memorandum of Intent between Invest India and Invest in Israel
   
• Aimed at supporting and developing cooperation between the two sides through exchange of information on investment opportunities
   
• Also on developing cooperation on relevant laws and regulations, policies and government initiatives.

HOMEOPATHY, AYUSH

• MoU between the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH and the Centre for Integrative
   
• Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center on Cooperation in the field of Research in Homeopathic Medicine
   
• Envisages cooperation in the field of Research in Homeopathic Medicine, inter alia including establishment of a joint working group.

CYBER SECURITY COOPERATION

• Envisages cooperation in the field of cyber security
   
• Meant to develop, promote and expand cooperation in the field of Human Resource Development.
   
• Various platforms and arrangements such as training programmes, skill development, and simulator based hands-on training to be used.
   
• Also envisages collaboration in the field of cyber security resilience, promoting B2B cooperation in cyber security and facilitating industrial summits.

OTHER TAKEAWAYS

• Commencement and implementation of India-Israel development cooperation. Three-year work programme in Agriculture (2018-2020)
   
• Completion of all formalities for the launch of the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F).
   
• Commencement of an annual exchange of visits of one hundred youth from the science streams
   
• Commencement of  nine joint R&D projects in the areas of big data analytics in health care and security in cyber space.
   
• In  order to build a strong network between the next generation of the best women scientists and technologists of the two countries, an India-Israel Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Symposium will be organised in October, 2018 in India.
   
• Israel declared its willingness to become a Partner Country in the initiative taken by India to establish the International Solar Alliance.
   
• To expedite the conclusion of an Agreement on Maritime Transport that will encourage greater business between the shipping organisations of India and Israel.
   
• Decision to sign Protocol Amending Air Transport Agreement to expand the scope of cooperation in the civil aviation sector.
   
• An  MoU in Film Co-Production in recognition of the role that films play in promoting people-to-people contact.
   
• To build  comprehensive cooperation in counter-terrorism, including cyber-space, and welcome the signing of the MoU on Cooperation in Cyber Security between India and Israel.
   
• FOR PALESTINE CAUSE: Reaffirmed support for an early resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians for arriving at a comprehensive negotiated solution on all outstanding issues, based on mutual recognition and effective security arrangements, for establishing a just and durable peace in the region.