India and Israel mainly focus on defence R&D

History will be created when President Pranab Mukherjee visits Israel this October, marking first high-level trip from India since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. While partnership between Delhi and Tel Aviv has witnessed phenomenal growth during the past two decades, ties have gained significant visibility during the past year. Daniel Carmon, Israel's Ambassador to India since 2014, tells Dipanjan Roy Chaudhary that Israel and India have already been engaged in Make in India across sectors from defence to agriculture to water and startup could be next area of focus besides expanding counter-terror cooperation. Edited excerpts: Can you give us a sense of President Pranab Mukherjee's forthcoming visit - first ever Head of State trip from India to Israel? It is going to be big visit, an important visit. He will be the first president of India to ever visit Israel which will take place mid-October. This is way beyond expectations. The relationship has been a journey,a process — they have been very special and unique. But relations have not seen big visibility. But now there is there is a change. In a few years reciprocal visits, I hope, will be part of menu. Presidential and PM (from India in future) visits will be highlight of change we are seeing. This is both change and process. Relations have passed through very specific tests. India and Israel warded good marks to each other as they have passed tests. How do see Indo-Israel special defence relations prosper under the Make in India initiative? Our defence minister was in India last February and met top leadership. Co-production and co-development of India-Israel is happening in defence sector and our defence minister witnessed that. Israel is willing to listen and be flexible in defence sector. There are some projects where we were already part of Make in India in one or the other way. Besides the landmark MoU in homeland security, we are fighting terror jointly. Does Israel have to seek permission from USA as far as transferring sensitive technology as part of weapon sales to India? Israel has ongoing joint production and co-development with India with regard to defence. Bilateral cooperation is the norm of defence partnership between India and Israel. Relationship between India and Israel in defence is way beyond buying and selling. It is about doing things together, doing Research & Development together. Indian Navy ships visited Israeli port of Haifa and this is a significant development. Israel has been described as a startup nation. Can you specfy collaboration in the startup sector with India? Israel has been declared as a startup nation as we have successfully managed an ecosystem through various stakeholders. Israeli government's budget for R&D is highest in the world. We also have the highest number of startups in the world. Indians are seeking help from Israeli startups. You will see more and more Indo-Israeli cooperation. Many Indian and Israeli professionals are looking to work with each other in this space.