Israeli Prez to attend commemorating ceremony of 26/11 victims during India visit

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who will arrive in India on November 15 for a state visit, will attend a ceremony commemorating the victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack in the Taj Hotel, Mumbai.

Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said President Rivlin's visit will the first by any Israeli President since 1996.

"He will have many official meetings. I can feel the enthusiasm for the visit in the governments and it is mutual I would say," said Carmon.

Elaborating on the visit, Carmon said that President Rivlin will be welcomed in the President's House and will hold talks with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Minister of External Affairs and other leaders.

The Israeli President will be accompanied by a large business delegation, academic delegation with 12 chancellors of leading Israeli universities, representatives from various Israeli ministries and a defence industry delegation, said Carmon.

He said the President will also pay a visit to the historic Taj Mahal and also the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture in Karnal in Haryana and will take part in Agro Tech 2016 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Chandigarh.

"He will also honour some business seminars and events with his presence in which few hundreds of Israeli and Indian businessmen will meet and talk about how to strengthen business relations between both countries," said the envoy adding, "There will also be an academic event where chancellors from both sides will meet in presence of our president and the minister of HRD."

He said that around 15 or more MoUs between universities will be signed .

There will also be agreements on water, energy, Rand D and agriculture.

During his visit to Mumbai, President Rivlin will also meet representatives of the Jewish community in Mumbai.

"India and Israel enjoy very unique and especial relationship in the field of Defence. It's an industrial type of corporation, it has R&D involved. There are projects in which India and Israel have together developed systems. Its beyond the buyers and sellers prospect." said the envoy.