Gujarat CM meets Israeli PM; discusses ways to improve cooperation

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed ways to improve the cooperation in various fields including agriculture, cyber security and water management.

It is Rupani's first trip abroad as chief minister and comes months after he hosted Prime Minister Netanyahu in Gujarat in January.

During their 45-minute long meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to improve the cooperation in fields of agriculture, cyber security, water management and innovation, Indian officials said.

Rupani noted that there are tremendous opportunities of cooperation and collaboration between Gujarat and Israel in the fields of farming and innovation which can benefit farmers and youth of Gujarat.

Netanyahu proposed to set up a joint working group to promote cooperation in a sustained manner so that more ideas can be taken forward in a systematic manner, they said.

He assured that Israel will cooperate and work closely with Gujarat in the field of water management. He further emphasised that technology transfer can best and most swiftly be done through entrepreneurs from both the sides.

Netanyahu also suggested to take advantage of Israel's cyber apprenticeship program where Gujarat and Israel can jointly sponsor students from Gujarat to join 5-10 week apprenticeship program which can provide faster opportunities of technology transfer and bright job opportunities.

He also agreed to consider the chief minister's request of piloting precision and digital agriculture farming project somewhere in Gujarat.

Netanyahu also recalled his trip to India and to Gujarat in January and said that he was moved by the love and affection showed by the people.

"We believe in this alliance between Israel and India, and it was tremendously enhanced by Prime Minister Modi's visit to Israel. I was pleased to be in Gujarat, and now I'm pleased that Gujarat is in Israel," he said.

Rupani is on a six-day visit to Israel.