India, Israel seek closer cooperation in 2007

Good INFO:
Monday, January 22 to February 12 (four classes)
7 pm to 8:15 pm
American Jewish Committee

The first Jews arrived in India more than 2000 years ago and were followed by several waves of Jewish immigration, all with distinct origins. Join us for a special look into the Indian Jewish community and their lives in India, Israel, Canada, and the U.S.

We will begin by watching the film Salaam Shalom: The Jews of India and then we will study the culture with help from local members of the Indian Jewish community. The class will conclude with a reception with an Indian diplomat and Aaron Jacob, a former Israeli Ambassador of Indian Jewish origin who is Associate Director of International Affairs at the American Jewish Committee. Vegetarian and dairy Indian food will be served.

Nissim Reuben is a program officer on Indian-Jewish relations at the American Jewish Committee. He coordinated a historic India-Israel-U.S. friendship reception in 2003.

Cost:
Jewish Study Center members - $50
Non-members - $60

For more information or to register, visit www.jewishstudycenter.org or call 202-332-1221.
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India, Israel seek closer cooperation
In discussions between Israeli and Indian trade and industry minister, officials decide countries will further expand bilateral trade, investment relations building on respective strengths of two economies

India and Israel will further expand bilateral trade and investment relations building on the respective strengths of the two economies.

This was highlighted during discussions between Shri Kamal Nath, minister of commerce and industry and Mr. Eli Yishai, deputy prime minister and minister of industry, trade and labor of the government of Israel, who was accompanied by a large Israeli business delegation.

Shri Kamal Nath described Mr. Yishai’s visit as an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations between the two countries and said this was in continuation of the process started by Prime Minister Mr. Ehud Olmert’s visit to India in December 2004 when it was agreed to establish a Joint Study Group to make recommendations on mechanisms and targets for expanding trade and economic cooperation.

Several steps have since been implemented including the opening up of an Indian bank in Israel, finalization of an Agreement on Standardization and initiation of discussions between the two sides for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), based on the recommendations of the Joint Study Group.


A Cooperation Agreement between India and Israel in the field of Standards, Technical Regulations and Sanitary Measures is also under consideration, under which both sides could cooperate in this field through harmonization of national standards with international standards requirements, facilitation for establishing scientific and technical collaboration and elimination of technical barriers to trade.

39 percent growth in exports to Israel
Trade between India and Israel stood at USD 2.2 billion in 2005-06, of which India’s exports to Israel were valued at USD 1.2 billion and India’s imports from Israel at USD 1 billion. During 2004-05, India’s exports to Israel crossed USD 1 billion, registering a growth of nearly 39 percent.

The top five items of exports from India to Israel are: Gems & Jewelry, drugs, pharmaceuticals & fine chemicals, cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups etc., plastic & linoleum products, inorganic/organic/agro-chemicals etc.

The top five items of imports by India from Israel include: Pearls, precious / semi-precious stones; electronic goods, fertilizers manufactured, professional instruments etc., except electronic and organic chemicals.

There is considerable scope in sectors other than diamonds and cotton, especially organic chemicals, plastics and rubber, electrical component, software, pharmaceuticals and medical disposable metals and machinery etc.