Smotrich praised India-Israel ties, showing keen interest in GIFT City and UPI for Israeli finance expansion
Gandhinagar
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, on his first visit to India, met Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, exploring new areas of cooperation in finance, technology, and agriculture.
Smotrich, leading a high-level delegation, said India, Gujarat, and Israel share strong cultural and economic ties that should be deepened further. He expressed particular interest in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), noting the potential for Israeli financial institutions to set up operations there.
Highlighting the close relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Smotrich praised India’s consistent support to Israel, especially in counter-terrorism efforts. He also emphasized the scope for greater business-to-business partnerships.
Chief Minister Patel welcomed the delegation warmly and underlined Gujarat’s openness to collaboration with Israel. He stressed that agriculture could be a major focus, pointing to Israel’s global success with drip irrigation. Patel also suggested that officials from both sides could form a joint team to explore opportunities at GIFT City and other sectors of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Patel offered condolences for the recent loss of lives in Israel and commended the nation’s resilience. Senior Gujarat officials, including Chief Principal Secretary M.K. Das and Finance Secretary Arti Kanwar, also attended.
India and Israel share a growing partnership in defence, technology, water management, and innovation. Israeli expertise in fields like irrigation and cybersecurity blends well with India’s markets and skilled workforce. With deepening trust between leaders, both nations are expected to strengthen investments, foster economic cooperation, and expand their shared commitment to security and innovation.
