Urge Indian community in Jerusalem to invest in India: Sushma

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Monday urged the Indian community in Jerusalem to build long term stakes in the Indian economy through investment and joint development of products and services.

"Our students should collaborate in scientific research. Our entrepreneurs should build start-ups together. We need many more exchanges between our civil societies, parliamentarians, opinion makers and women and we encourage you to build long term stakes in the Indian economy through investment and joint development of products and services," Swaraj said.

She congratulated the Indian caregivers for performing commendable service and also conveyed her good wishes to Indians serving in the UN Disengagement Observer Force.

"Our cooperation is expanding in new areas like homeland security, innovation, education and Science and Technology. Next year, we will mark the 25th anniversary of the full establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries," Sushma said.

"I look at the future with optimism and to quote Prime Minister Netanyahu 'sky is the limit' for India-Israel ties," she added.

The External Affairs Minister asserted that India is very proud of its large diaspora, which is hard working, sincere and community-minded.

"India has always offered the Jewish people a safe and secure home for many centuries. I believe that India-Israel partnership will be strengthened in future," she added.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted, "At the heart of #IndiaIsrael relations.EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets with the burgeoning Indian comm'ty & Friends of India."

Earlier, Sushma met Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz.

She also met Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon and former Israeli Finance Minister and Chair of the India-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group Tzipi Livni.