India, Israel FTA: Next round of talks in May

New Delhi: India and Israel will hold the next round of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries in May, the commerce and industry ministry said Thursday, after
the “successful conclusion” of the first round here.

The first round of talks coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing state visit to Israel who called for early finalisation of an ambitious FTA to realise the untapped trade potential between the two countries on Wednesday.


During the four-day negotiations from February 23-26, both countries engaged in discussions covering a wide range of areas, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures, intellectual property rights, digital trade, and other key chapters, according to the ministry.

“Discussions were held in a constructive and forward-looking manner, with both sides reaffirming their objective of negotiating a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial agreement,” the ministry said, adding that both sides also agreed to continue inter-sessional engagements virtually.

The next round of in-person negotiations will be held in May 2026 in Israel.

On Wednesday, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, met the visiting Israeli delegation and emphasized that both sides should work closely to unlock new opportunities in trade, innovation, and growth, thereby further strengthening the valued partnership between the two countries.

Bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries was $3.62 billion in FY25.

“Both sides noted the untapped potential in key sectors, including machinery, chemicals, textiles, agriculture, medical devices, and advanced technologies,” it said.

The proposed FTA offers a valuable opportunity to enhance trade flows by providing a stable and predictable framework for businesses in both India and Israel.

India and Israel were engaged earlier also to negotiate a similar agreement. Eight rounds were held, but talks stalled later. The last round was held in October 2021. Now both sides have again started the negotiations.