Home Minister Rajnath Singh invites Israel to 'Make in India' in defence sector

TEL AVIV: India has invited Israel to become a partner in the ' Make in India' initiative in the defence sector even as the Jewish state expressed its desire to share cutting-edge weapons technologies with New Delhi.

These discussions were held yesterday between visiting Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon at the defence headquarters here.

The 'Make in India' initiative is the concept rolled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently to boost the manufacturing sector.

Singh was accompanied by senior officials from his ministry and Indian Ambassador to Israel Jaideep Sarkar, a Home Ministry statement today said.

The ministers, the statement said, emphasised the priority accorded by both sides to the bilateral relationship and agreed to continue to cooperate in various areas, in particular in the defence sector.

Singh outlined various policy changes and decisions taken by the government of India and referred in particular to the relaxation in the Foreign Direct Investment limits in the defence sector.

"He urged the Israeli defence sector to 'Make in India'," the statement said.

The Israeli defence minister said that his country wanted to develop relations in the defence sector and wants to discuss the possibility of transferring cutting-edge technologies for manufacturing in India.

The two sides also discussed the regional scenario and the threat posed by terrorism not only to India and Israel but to the world in general.

"A number of areas of specific cooperation were discussed including protection of border areas and information sharing," it said.