New Delhi

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said the shared vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is translating into concrete steps, as negotiations for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) move forward.

In a post on X, Goyal described the moment as “historic and special,” noting that an Israeli delegation is currently in New Delhi to advance FTA discussions. He said he had a productive interaction with the visiting team, which reflected the mutual commitment to deepen economic engagement.

“It is encouraging to see both sides working closely to unlock new opportunities in trade, innovation and growth, further strengthening our valued partnership,” Goyal said.

His remarks came in response to a message from former Israeli minister Nir Barkat, who said a delegation led by Israel’s Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry had arrived in India to formally launch negotiations on the proposed FTA.

Barkat attributed the progress to the strategic relationship between Modi and Netanyahu and expressed confidence that the talks could pave the way for expanded economic cooperation, describing the potential agreement as a powerful growth engine for both economies.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day State visit and was received by Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu. In a message shared upon arrival, Modi expressed optimism about the visit and said he looked forward to engaging in bilateral discussions that would further strengthen the India-Israel partnership.

The push for an FTA is seen as a significant step in expanding trade ties between the two countries, which have already seen growing collaboration in sectors such as defence, technology, agriculture and innovation.

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If concluded, the agreement is expected to provide greater market access, streamline trade procedures and boost investments, adding a new dimension to the strategic partnership between India and Israel.