India’s finance minister calls for greater collaboration in ‘cybersecurity’ and ‘defence’ between the two countries.Published On 8 Sep 20258 Sep 2025Israel and India have signed a bilateral investment agreement to expand mutual trade during far-right Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich’s trip to the South Asian country, which deepened its ties with Israel under Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The agreement, signed in New Delhi by Smotrich and Indian Minister of Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, aims to boost trade and investment flows between the two countries. Sitharaman stressed the need for greater collaboration in “cybersecurity, defence, innovation and high-technology”.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe deal marked “an important strategic step for our joint vision”, said Smotrich, who has been sanctioned by several Western countries for his links to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.“The agreement reached today between Israel and India reflects our economic growth, innovation and mutual prosperity,” he wrote on X.“This agreement will open new opportunities for investors in both countries, strengthen Israeli exports, and provide businesses with the certainty and tools to grow in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets.”India’s Ministry of Finance described the deal as a “historic milestone”, adding that it will foster cooperation in “fintech innovation, infrastructure development, financial regulation, and digital payment connectivity”.Bilateral trade stood at $3.9bn in 2024, while current mutual investments are worth about $800m, according to official figures. Bu …
