Partnership with India doing 'wonders': Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday emphasised that partnership with India is doing wonders and said he has a strong bonding with his Indian counterpart.

Speaking at the India-Israel Business Summit in Mumbai, Netanyahu said, Israel is an innovation nation, India is an innovation nation. The two innovation nations must come together to define the future."

"Our job is to encourage you to innovate. The partnership between India and Israel is doing wonders. I have a strong personal friendship with PM Modi," he added.

Talking about his visit to Gujarat, the Israeli Prime Minister mentioned about a 14-year-old boy, who made a landmines identifier drone.

"I also visited iCreate, an impressive hub where brilliant young minds come to solve problems. I was particularly impressed with a 14-year-old boy. This was slumdog millionaire. He produces drone which goes up the sky and identifies landmines, it'll save lives," Netanyahu said.

On the relationship between people of Israel and India, Netanyahu said, "It is on the level first of a deep personal friendship between Prime Minister Modi and myself. In addition, there is a partnership of genuine sympathy between our people. And that is not obvious. Our two civilisations are very old and we have not met each other in a real sense."

The Isreali Prime Minister hailing India's competitive efforts recalled the 1983 cricket World Cup win.

"India also knows the value of competition and the glory of competition. How many of you know who won the 1983 World Cup? If you were not in London then you must be on streets honking when India defeated West Indies. That is competition," he said.

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met the top Indian CEOs and head honchos for a power breakfast in Mumbai.

While addressing the Indian CEO's in Mumbai at a business forum, Netanyahu said, "Future belongs to those who innovate. Our job is to encourage you to innovate. The partnership between India and Israel is doing wonders".

Netanyahu interacted with business leaders at the iconic Taj hotel overlooking the Arabia Sea. Business leaders who were present at the breakfast included Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Dilip Shanghvi, Ashok Hinduja, Atul Punj and Chanda Kochhar.

The business forum was also attended by Israeli business persons.

Soon following that, Netanyahu's schedule is followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace opposite the Gateway of India and a visit to the Chabad House in Nariman House, in nearby Colaba - both in south Mumbai.

Netanyahu will also meet the 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg. He will later meet around 25 to 30 members of the Jewish community at the Taj hotel.

Moshe's father Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and mother Rivka were killed at the Nariman House during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

By evening, Netanyahu is reserved for a gala glamour-filled engagement with Bollywood personalities, his final engagement before returning home on Friday morning.

Netanyahu arrived in Mumbai earlier in the day from Ahmedabad. He was received at the airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials.