Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Israel on Wednesday for a high-level visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, security, trade, and innovation.

Announcing the visit, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described it as the Prime Minister’s second trip to Israel. During the visit, Modi will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the two leaders are expected to review progress under the India-Israel Strategic Partnership and explore new avenues of collaboration.

According to the MEA, discussions will cover a wide range of sectors including science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economic cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to call on Israeli President Isaac Herzog during the visit.

FTA talks gain momentum

Coinciding with Modi’s visit, the first round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) began in New Delhi and will continue until February 26, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.

Officials noted that the timing of the talks provides fresh momentum to deepen economic engagement between the two countries. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the FTA were signed in November 2025, creating a structured framework for expanding trade and investment ties.

The proposed agreement is expected to provide greater certainty and predictability for businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and unlock new opportunities across key sectors.

India and Israel share complementary strengths in innovation-driven industries such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-tech manufacturing, agriculture and services. The Commerce Ministry believes the FTA could significantly boost bilateral trade by leveraging these synergies.

India’s Chief Negotiator Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, emphasised the importance of crafting a balanced and forward-looking agreement that reflects the evolving partnership. His Israeli counterpart, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director for Trade Policy and Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner at Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry, said the FTA could strengthen supply chains, enhance cooperation and open new markets for both nations.