India-Israel Sign Multiple MoUs- AI, agriculture and cybersecurity; UPI linkage pact inked

Agreements signed in the presence of Modi and Netanyahu during PM's Jerusalem visit; pacts cover innovation, maritime heritage, fintech, education and trade cooperation.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two, day state visit to Israel on Thursday, India and Israel signed a host of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, agriculture, education and commerce.

The signing of the agreements was witnessed by Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, led their joint statements in Jerusalem, attesting to the increasing strategic, technological and economic relationship between the two countries.

The wide, ranging agreements cover areas such as innovation, agriculture, geophysical exploration, maritime heritage, fisheries and aquaculture, artificial intelligence, education, commerce and cybersecurity.

A cultural exchange MoU and an agreement to set up the India, Israel Innovation Centre for Agriculture were signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

An MoU on geophysical exploration was signed by Israel's Energy and Infrastructure Minister with Jaishankar.

An MoU on fisheries and aquaculture was signed by Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and the External Affairs Minister.

The two sides also signed an agreement to advance education through the use of artificial intelligence, with Israel’s Minister of Education and Jaishankar formalising the pact.

The report of the 4th India-Israel CEO Forum was presented by Israel’s Trade Commissioner and India’s Ambassador to Israel, J P Singh. Implementation protocols were also concluded under existing agreements covering commerce, services, manufacturing and the restaurant sector.

Among the other key outcomes were a Letter of Intent for the establishment of a Cyber Centre of Excellence and an MoU linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), operated by the National Payments Corporation of India, with Israel’s Masav system

Additional agreements included a commercial arbitration pact, an MoU between the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and the Israel Securities Authority, and a separate MoU on artificial intelligence aimed at strengthening cooperation in cutting-edge technologies.

Officials said the new agreements are expected to boost research collaboration, trade flows and high-tech engagement, further deepening the India-Israel strategic partnership.