Jerusalem

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the creation of “Villages of Excellence” to further strengthen agricultural cooperation between India and Israel, building on the success of the existing Centres of Excellence set up with Israeli collaboration across India.

Speaking during a joint press statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his two-day state visit, Modi described agricultural cooperation as one of the most successful pillars of bilateral ties and said it would now be given a futuristic direction.

“There has been a long and successful history of agricultural cooperation between the two countries. Today, we have resolved to give this cooperation a futuristic direction. The Centres of Excellence established in India with the cooperation of Israel are excellent examples of our friendship. Seeing their success, we have set a target to increase their number to 100,” he said.

The Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence are high-tech agricultural hubs designed to transfer Israeli agri-technologies adapted to Indian conditions. They focus on priority crops and include advanced nursery management, improved cultivation techniques, and efficient irrigation and fertigation systems.

Taking the initiative further, the Prime Minister announced the development of “Villages of Excellence” to extend the benefits of Israeli agricultural technologies to the grassroots level.

“With this, Israeli technology will reach every village in India and will greatly increase the income and productivity of lakhs of farmers. Together, we will also develop future-ready farming solutions. The establishment of the India-Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture in India will provide a strong base for this cooperation,” he said.

Modi also highlighted the importance of people-to-people ties, calling them a key pillar of India-Israel relations. Referring to the India-Israel Manpower Mobility Agreement signed in 2023, he said Indian workers have contributed significantly to Israel’s construction and caregiver sectors.

“Indian workers have earned trust through their hard work, commitment, and skills. I am happy that the expansion of this cooperation is also being done in areas like commerce and services,” he noted.

Emphasising youth and innovation, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of an India-Israel Academic Forum to promote collaboration among students, researchers and innovators from both countries.

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The announcements signal a renewed push to deepen cooperation in agriculture, innovation, mobility and education. This is Modi’s second visit to Israel as Prime Minister, following his landmark trip in 2017.