India kicked off the first round of the Free Trade Agreement talks with Israel on Tuesday (Feb 24), after Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with Israeli negotiators who are in New Delhi for the deliberations. These talks are scheduled to take place until February 26. Goyal hailed the meeting as an important step towards enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.&nbsp;"Met a delegation from Israel today, visiting India for the first round of India-Israel Free Trade Agreement negotiations (23rd-26th February 2026). The FTA negotiations mark an important step towards enhancing India-Israel bilateral trade &amp; economic cooperation, aimed at creating greater opportunities for businesses and people on both sides," Goyal wrote in a post on X.&nbsp;During the maiden round, the talks are expected to be centred around trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedure and trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, among others, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a release. Chief Negotiator of India, Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, reiterated the significance of this engagement for the two countries and encouraged both sides to work on a balanced agreement to build a forward-looking framework for an evolving partnership, the release said.&nbsp;Chief Negotiator of Israel for the FTA, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director Trade Policy &amp; Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner, Foreign Trade Administration, Ministry of Economy and Industry, Israel, expressed that the two countries shared a close relationship, and that the FTA has the potential to strengthen supply chains, enhance cooperation and open new markets for both countries.&nbsp;The negotiation of the trade deal began days ahead of Prime Minister Modi's scheduled two-day visit to Israel on Wednesday. Confirming the visit Indian PM on Sunday hailed “the deep bond between India and Israel” and the multi-dimensional nature of bilateral relations. The trip marks his first visit to Israel in his third term and his second overall since 2017. During his visit, he is slated to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, and is expected to sign multiple agreements in the areas of defence, technology and trade.&nbsp;In a post on X, Modi expressed appreciation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s welcoming words, saying, “India attaches great importance to the strong and enduring friendship with Israel, a friendship based on mutual trust, innovation and a shared aspiration for peace and progress.” Netanyahu also announced that Modi’s trip would help forge a new alliance to counter what he described as “radical” adversaries.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dgca-cracks-down-on-vsr-after-ajit-pawar-s-plane-crash-all-learjets-grounded-1771947591488">DGCA cracks down on VSR after Ajit Pawar's plane crash, all Learjets grounded</a>&nbsp;“In the vision I see before me, we will create an entire system, essentially a ‘hexagon’ of alliances around or within the Middle East,” the Israeli leader said.&nbsp;“This includes India, Arab nations, African nations, Mediterranean nations (Greece and Cyprus), and nations in Asia that I won’t detail at the moment,” Netanyahu said, adding that he will further elaborate on his plan in the future.&nbsp;“The intention here is to create an axis of nations that see eye-to-eye on the reality, challenges and goals against the radical axes, both the radical Shiite axis, which we have struck very hard, and the emerging radical Sunni axis,” he added.

The first round of FTA talks kicks off after Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met a delegation of Israeli negotiators in New Delhi.

India kicked off the first round of the Free Trade Agreement talks with Israel on Tuesday (Feb 24), after Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with Israeli negotiators who are in New Delhi for the deliberations. These talks are scheduled to take place until February 26. Goyal hailed the meeting as an important step towards enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation. "Met a delegation from Israel today, visiting India for the first round of India-Israel Free Trade Agreement negotiations (23rd-26th February 2026). The FTA negotiations mark an important step towards enhancing India-Israel bilateral trade & economic cooperation, aimed at creating greater opportunities for businesses and people on both sides," Goyal wrote in a post on X. During the maiden round, the talks are expected to be centred around trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedure and trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, among others, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a release. Chief Negotiator of India, Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, reiterated the significance of this engagement for the two countries and encouraged both sides to work on a balanced agreement to build a forward-looking framework for an evolving partnership, the release said. Chief Negotiator of Israel for the FTA, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director Trade Policy & Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner, Foreign Trade Administration, Ministry of Economy and Industry, Israel, expressed that the two countries shared a close relationship, and that the FTA has the potential to strengthen supply chains, enhance cooperation and open new markets for both countries. The negotiation of the trade deal began days ahead of Prime Minister Modi's scheduled two-day visit to Israel on Wednesday. Confirming the visit Indian PM on Sunday hailed “the deep bond between India and Israel” and the multi-dimensional nature of bilateral relations. The trip marks his first visit to Israel in his third term and his second overall since 2017. During his visit, he is slated to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, and is expected to sign multiple agreements in the areas of defence, technology and trade. In a post on X, Modi expressed appreciation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s welcoming words, saying, “India attaches great importance to the strong and enduring friendship with Israel, a friendship based on mutual trust, innovation and a shared aspiration for peace and progress.” Netanyahu also announced that Modi’s trip would help forge a new alliance to counter what he described as “radical” adversaries. Also Read: DGCA cracks down on VSR after Ajit Pawar's plane crash, all Learjets grounded “In the vision I see before me, we will create an entire system, essentially a ‘hexagon’ of alliances around or within the Middle East,” the Israeli leader said. “This includes India, Arab nations, African nations, Mediterranean nations (Greece and Cyprus), and nations in Asia that I won’t detail at the moment,” Netanyahu said, adding that he will further elaborate on his plan in the future. “The intention here is to create an axis of nations that see eye-to-eye on the reality, challenges and goals against the radical axes, both the radical Shiite axis, which we have struck very hard, and the emerging radical Sunni axis,” he added.

The first round of FTA talks kicks off after Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met a delegation of Israeli negotiators in New Delhi.

First round of India-Israel FTA negotiations begins in New Delhi ahead of PM Modi’s visit

India and Israel signed the terms of reference (ToR) on Thursday to formally launch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. The signing of the ToR is a boost for India’s trade outreach and the India-Israel bilateral relationship. The terms of reference include market access for goods by eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, investment facilitation, simplification of customs procedures, increasing cooperation for innovation and technology transfer, and easing norms to promote trade in services. “We have signed the ToRs today. Now we will soon finalise the dates for starting the negotiations for that,” Goyal, who is leading a 60-member business delegation to Israel, told reporters. He will meet leaders and businesses to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investments.&nbsp;Goyal said the proposed trade agreement will cover market access and liberalisation of trade, progressively eliminate tariff barriers, and reduce non-tariff barriers by fast-tracking approvals and market access.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India &amp; Israel have signed the Terms of Reference for negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement. 🇮🇳🇮🇱 <a href="https://t.co/9XtuH9YuLs">pic.twitter.com/9XtuH9YuLs</a>&mdash; Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1991518147862753457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-intellectuals-turning-terrorists-more-dangerous-police-tell-supreme-court-in-2020-delhi-riots-case-1763639800712">‘Intellectuals turning terrorists more dangerous’: Police tell Supreme Court in 2020 Delhi riots case</a>&nbsp;The subsequent discussions will include issues like investment, simplification of customs procedures, technology transfer, defence, space, fintech, agritech, AI, cyber security, R&amp;D, innovation, fintech, and drip irrigation.&nbsp;Goyal added that the FTA will create a bridge for skilled and qualified professionals from India to work in Israel, and particularly the services sector will gain.He added that 8 to 10 Indian companies have been shortlisted for work on a ₹4.5 lakh crore metro project in Tel Aviv, for which a pre-qualification interest has already been issued.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/neo-nazi-cult-leader-admits-terror-plot-to-give-poisoned-candy-to-jewish-kids-1763575766259">Neo-Nazi cult leader admits to terror plot of giving poisoned candy to Jewish kids</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India is scaling so rapidly, we are amazed: Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel, <a href="https://twitter.com/NirBarkat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NirBarkat</a> <a href="https://t.co/xuvIEf5ZIA">pic.twitter.com/xuvIEf5ZIA</a>&mdash; Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1991531790843146740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Goyal described the proposed India-Israel FTA as a powerful force multiplier in the bilateral relationship, marking it as a historic beginning between both countries with a rich history of resilience and growth amidst challenges.India-Israel friendship was started by former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee and given wings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. who became the first Indian PM to visit Israel in 2017, Goyal said, and termed the FTA negotiations as a “new journey of shared prosperity between trusted partners who complement each other.” Highlighting the trade complementarities between the two countries, Goyal said that Israel doesn’t want any export opportunities in the dairy, agriculture, and fisheries sectors, which are sensitive for India.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal described the proposed India-Israel FTA as a powerful force multiplier in the bilateral relationship, marking it as a historic beginning between both countries with a rich history of resilience and growth amidst challenges.

India and Israel signed the terms of reference (ToR) on Thursday to formally launch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. The signing of the ToR is a boost for India’s trade outreach and the India-Israel bilateral relationship. The terms of reference include market access for goods by eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, investment facilitation, simplification of customs procedures, increasing cooperation for innovation and technology transfer, and easing norms to promote trade in services. “We have signed the ToRs today. Now we will soon finalise the dates for starting the negotiations for that,” Goyal, who is leading a 60-member business delegation to Israel, told reporters. He will meet leaders and businesses to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investments. Goyal said the proposed trade agreement will cover market access and liberalisation of trade, progressively eliminate tariff barriers, and reduce non-tariff barriers by fast-tracking approvals and market access.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal described the proposed India-Israel FTA as a powerful force multiplier in the bilateral relationship, marking it as a historic beginning between both countries with a rich history of resilience and growth amidst challenges.

India and Israel ink terms of reference for free trade agreement negotiations

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First round of India-Israel FTA negotiations begins in New Delhi ahead of PM Modi’s visit

India and Israel ink terms of reference for free trade agreement negotiations