India Israel Connect | August-September, 2022

Indian Visa Application Process For Israel Citizens

Digital Journal I October 5, 2022 

• The Government of India has now made it possible for Israeli citizens to apply for an Indian visa online. This new e-Visa system will streamline the process and make it more convenient for travellers
• The e-Visa system is already available for citizens of over 150 countries, and the Ministry of Home Affairs is committed to making India an even more accessible and welcoming destination. 

India’s growing ties with Israel can make it a great mediator

Ynet News I August 19, 2022

• On the 75^th Anniversary of Indian Independence, the Indian Embassy in Israel hosted President Isaac Herzog and Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel.
• The Israeli president, emphasized the strategic partnership between the two nations that has been fostered over the past three decades, and noted that, “India’s influence as a regional and global power is steadily on the rise, and I am confident that the greater your level of engagement, the greater the positive change.”
• Sanjeev Singla, India’s ambassador to Israel, noted that it was during the presidency of Herzog’s father, Chaim Herzog, “that our bilateral diplomatic ties were upgraded to full ties.”

India’s potash demand languishes as world reels from high prices

The Economic Times I September 29, 2022 

• India, one of the world’s biggest potash importers, is facing demand destruction due to high prices and the loss of critical supplies from Belarus and Russia.
• Potash consumption will probably fall to 3 million tons in the year through March 2023 from 5 million a year earlier, according to P.S. Gahlaut, managing director of Indian Potash Ltd., the country’s top importer of the crop nutrient. Farmers have been using less of it to grow crops like rice, wheat and sugar.
• Indian Potash has agreed to buy the crop nutrient from Israel, Canada, Jordan and Germany this year at $590 a ton including freight charges, up from around $445 last year. Supplies from Russia and Belarus, two of the three biggest exporters, have come to a standstill because of payment issues, Gahlaut said. 

The India – Arab Emirates – Israel route, an alternative for global food security

Atalayar I August 4, 2022

• The food corridor, agreed by the I2U2 group, will connect Bombay with the Emirati ports and the Israeli Mediterranean coast, and will serve as an alternative to the New Silk Road in China.
• This was reflected in the joint statement issued by the four I2U2 leaders in mid-July: “innovative ways to ensure more diverse and longer-term food production and delivery systems to better manage global crises have been discussed”.
• Each of the countries involved will bring its experience and capabilities to the project, with Abu Dhabi planning to invest $2,000 to develop a food chain complex using green technologies across India, seeking to reduce food waste, conserve fresh water and use renewable energy sources. For its part, India will provide land and incorporate its farmers, while the United States and Israel will encourage their private sectors to offer their expertise

In booths of recycled waste, Israel’s fast-growing climate tech sector holds confab

Education

The Times of Israel I September 22, 2022

• Israel, known as the Startup Nation for its prowess in all thing’s tech, from software to cyber technology, artificial intelligence and semiconductors, has lagged behind other nations in climate technologies. That, however, is changing, as policymakers and citizens the world over realize that it is a huge and pressing challenge.
• The conference was an initiative of the nonprofit PLANETech — a joint venture of the Israel Institute for Innovation and Consensus Business Group — and was held in partnership with the Israel Innovation Authority.
• One of the main goals of the conference was to promote discourse, raise awareness and showcase the most innovative and creative solutions the Israeli tech industry has to offer, according to organizers.

Adani Enterprises partners with Israel Innovation Authority for tech solutions

The Economic Times I August 04, 2022

• Adani Enterprises, the business incubation arm of the Adani Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) for cooperation in technological innovations.
• The deal includes creation of a ‘cutting-edge innovation platform’ that will allow Adani arms to access tech solutions provided by Israeli start-ups whereby selected innovation projects will be supported by the partnership.
• The Adani Group is expecting the partnership to enhance the capabilities, technology leadership, resources and worldwide presence of both the parties involved.

• Underscoring the importance of India – Israel defence ties, Ambassador Naor Gilon said that the defence cooperation between the two sides is a long and successful one and that Tel Aviv is very happy to be a strong partner in areas like UAV’s, rockets, missiles, and defence needs of New Delhi.
• The Israel envoy stated that India’s bid for self sufficiency is a smart move and Tel Aviv will be happy to assist Indian in this endeavour.
• Ambassador Gilon added that “If we learnt anything from what’s happening in Ukraine and other places is that countries have to be self-sufficient, and ready to stand and protect themselves. No one will come to protect anyone in the world today. This was our belief in Israel from the very first day. More and more countries are coming to this realization.”

Strengthening relations between Tel Aviv University and Indian industry

Jerusalem Post I September 14, 2022

• Tel Aviv University recently hosted a delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as part of CII’s business mission to Tel Aviv.
• The CII delegation to Tel Aviv University was chaired by Mr. Rajan Navani, Chairman of the CII’s India@75 Council, VC & MD of Jetline Industries, and included a group of high-ranking industry leaders from India and the UAE.

Bollywood is coming to Israel

Jewish Chronicle I September 28, 2022 

• The story of how a minimally armed unit of Indian soldiers fought and beat the Ottoman army to win Haifa on Sept. 23, 1918, will soon be made into an action-packed, feature-length film by top producers from Bollywood. The movie will be made in Israel.
• Indian soldiers from the Jodhpur Lancers, Mysore Lancers and Hyderabad Lancers fought in the battle, which is considered one of the most successful cavalry charges in the history of modern warfare. The men were armed only with lances and swords, yet they outclassed Ottoman, German and Austrian troops who were equipped with machine guns, cannons and other modern weapons.
• Golden Ratio Films (GRF), the digital content production arm of Vistas Media Capital, announced the project last week at a ceremony in Haifa. “Heroes of Haifa” will be co-produced by GRF and Yalestar films, in collaboration with Hundred Films.

Indian designer Sahil Kochhar’s special collaboration with the Embassy of Israel in India

The Print I August 19, 2022

• The Embassy of Israel in India collaborated with Indian Designer Sahil Kochhar to launch a collection inspired by the beautiful landscapes of Israel.
• The Project is part of a campaign titled Yachad – Hebrew word meaning together and was undertaken to celebrate 30 years of Bilateral relations between India and Israel.
• On August 17, at an event organized in Delhi, Ambassador of Israel to India Naor Gilon said, “This is a first-of-its-kind project which we hope will open doors for future possibilities and collaborations between the people of Israel and India in the diverse fields of culture, fashion and lifestyle. Showcasing Indian designs inspired by Israeli landscapes led to this beautiful project, which has further strengthened the close friendship and growing partnership between our two nations.”