Soil to software: Maharashtra partnerships

Maharashtra and Israel are expected to chart a new course of cooperation in an array of sectors and fields, namely agriculture, water management, automotive and driver-less vehicles, IT & ITES , innovation and insurance. 

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who will be accompanied by industries minister Subhash Desai, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss the roadmap in this regard during a luncheon meeting slated for Thursday.

A state industries department officer told DNA,’ “The Israel government has decided to complement Make In India by promoting Make with India. Israel companies can provide technology, design and knowhow while India will exploit its manufacturing capacity in various sectors. Already, Israel has helped development of growth centres at Dapoli (for Alphonso mango), Rahuri (Pomegranate), Aurangabad (Kesar mango) and Nagpur (orange). Besides, the Tel Aviv Mayor is visiting Thane on January 23 to launch Smart City project.’’ He said Israel companies have evinced interest to provide technology for increasing production and productivity, drip irrigation and fertigation, green and net houses.

Israeli companies can also tie up with state agencies and Indian companies in agri logistics and mapping so that farmers in distress can be helped. ‘’Moshav, which is a type of agricultural community in Israeli consisting of a group of individual farms, is generally based on the principle of private ownership of land, emphasis on community labour and communal marketing. Israel is keen to cooperate Maharashtra to implement Moshav model in the state,’’ he noted.

This apart, Capsula.Studio at Tel Aviv University has already tied up with Pinnacle Industries (largest commercial vehicles seating and interiors company in India) to establish startup accelerator, Pinnacle Capsula.Studio in Pune. 

As far as automotive sector is concerned, industry sources said there are about 500 Israeli companies which can supply technology for driverless vehicles, composite fuel, etc.