Rupani calls on Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Friday had a meeting with Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders discussed methods to improve the cooperation in the field of agriculture, cyber security, water management and innovation.
During the meeting which lasted around 45 minutes, Rupani apprised Netanyahu that “an in-principal decision has already been taken to grant Gujarati Jews the status of religious minority in the state and a notification to this effect shall be issued soon by the government.” They had a fruitful discussion for more cooperation in fields of agriculture, cyber security, water management and innovation.

The Israeli PM remembered his trip to India and to Gujarat in January earlier this year. He said that he was “moved by the love and affection showed by the people of Gujarat and by his friend prime minister Narendra Modi.”

During talks, the Israeli PM also proposed to set up joint working group to promote such cooperation in a sustained manner so that more ideas can be taken forward in a systematic manner. He also assured that “Israel will cooperate and work closely with Gujarat in the field of water management.” He further emphasised that technology transfer can best and most swiftly be done through entrepreneurs from both the sides.

Rupani observed that “there are tremendous opportunities of cooperation and collaboration between Gujarat and Israel in the field of farming and innovation, which will benefit farmers and the youth of Gujarat.” The Israeli Prime Minister also agreed to consider the request of Rupani of piloting precision and Digital Agriculture Farming Project in Gujarat.

Netanyahu also mentioned ways for Gujarat to benefit from Israel’s wide-ranging cyber apprenticeship program in which Gujarat and Israel can jointly sponsor bright students from Gujarat to join 5-10 week apprenticeship programs which will enable faster opportunities for technology transfer and bright job opportunities for the students.

Rupani is currently leading a high-level delegation of senior officials on a week-long tour of Israel to discuss areas of mutual cooperation between Gujarat and Israel. It is his first trip abroad as CM and comes months after he hosted prime minister Netanyahu in Gujarat earlier this year.