FACTFILE: INDIA & ISRAEL

If defence and security cooperation forms the bedrock of Indo-Israeli ties, then collaboration on agriculture is, without doubt, the second most important sphere of the bilateral relationship. Here is a snapshot of the breadth of the bilateral relationship.Founded in: 14 May 1948Area: 20,770 sq kmPopulation: 8,174,527 (July 2016 est.)GDP: $311.7 billion (2016 est.)GDP growth rate: 2.8% (2016 est.)Currency: Israeli New ShekelCurrency versus dollar: 1 Israeli New Shekel equals 0.28 US Dollar (As of June 5, 2017)Currency versus rupee: 1 Israeli New Shekel equals 18.14 Indian Rupee (As of June 5, 2017)Inflation rate: -0.5% (2016 est.)Exports: $51.61 billion (2016 est.)Imports: $57.9 billion (2016 est.)Main industries: high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, constructionSource: CIAhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.htmlBilateral trade(Values in US$Mn)

• Israeli imports from India amounted to $2 billion or 3.5% of its overall imports in 2015.

1. Gems, precious metals and coins: $973.6 million
2. Organic chemicals: $296.5 million
3. Electronic equipment: $121.2 million
4. Medical, technical equipment: $59.3 million
5. Plastics: $56.4 million
6. Vehicles: $44.4 million
7. Machinery: $38.1 million
8. Other textiles, worn clothing: $31.8 million
9. Knit or crochet clothing: $31.6 million
10. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $30.8 million

• Israeli exports to India amounted to $2.3 billion or 3.8% of its overall exports in 2015.

1. Gems, precious metals and coins: $933.7 million
2. Electronic equipment: $389.3 million
3. Medical, technical equipment: $180.7 million
4. Iron or steel products: $170.3 million
5. Fertilisers: $157 million
6. Machinery: $110.9 million
7. Organic chemicals: $69.8 million
8. Other chemical goods: $44.2 million
9. Inorganic chemicals: $43.6 million
10. Plastics: $29.5 million

• President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, Nov 2016
• Agriculture Minister, Uri Ariel, April 2016
• Minister of Defence, Moshe Ya′alon, Feb 2015
• Minister of Agriculture, Yair Shamir, Jan 2015
• Minister of Economy, Naftali Bennett Oct 2013
• Minister of Energy & Water Resources, Uzi Landau Feb 2012

• Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh, Sep 2016
• Human Resources Development Minister, Prakash Javadekar, Sep 2016
• External Affairs Ministers, Sushma Swaraj, Jan 2016
• President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, Oct 2015
• Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis , April 2015
• Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul Sangam, April, 2015
• Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh, Nov 2014

• India formally recognised Israel on September 17, 1950. Soon thereafter, the Jewish Agency established an immigration office in Bombay. This was later converted into a Trade Office and subsequently into a Consulate.
• Since 1992, defence and agriculture have been the main pillars of bilateral engagement but in recent years it has expanded to areas such as S&T, education and homeland security.
• From $200 million in 1992 (comprising primarily trade in diamonds), bilateral merchandise trade reached $5.19 billion in 2011. Since then, it has, however, stagnated around $4-4.5 billion with bilateral trade (excluding defence) for 2015 being $4.14 billion.
• Israel provided military assistance to India in its wars with China in 1962 and during its wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. Israeli supplied weapons aided India in winning the Kargil War against Pakistan in 1999. Israel also provided humanitarian relief to India.

• Diamond trading constitutes more than half of bilateral trade but in recent years it has diversified to include sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT etc.
• Indian companies are marking their presence in Israel through mergers and acquisitions and by opening branch offices. Similarly there are over 300 Israeli investments in India, mainly in high-tech and agriculture.
• Major areas of collaborations are - Military, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Space, Culture & Education and Tourism.