New Indian Ambassador to Israel submits credentials

JERUSALEM: Describing India as a "great democracy" Israeli President Simon Peres on Wednesday said that the two countries should enhance cooperation in various fields like agriculture, science and technology to boost bilateral ties.

Receiving the credentials of the new Indian Ambassador to Israel Navtej Sarna at the President's House, Peres raised a toast to the "great democracy India" at the ceremony. The Israel President expressed great satisfaction at the progress made in different areas of cooperation between the two countries.

He also called for further engagement in the field of agriculture, science and technology, including nanotechnology, robotics, water technology and trade between the countries. India's democracy, diversity, history and culture is fascinating and young Israelis are being increasingly drawn towards it, the statesman said.

Sarna, who replaces Arun Kumar Singh, was the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi between 2002 and 2008 before being appointed as an envoy to Israel.

A career diplomat, he has served in several countries including Russia, Poland, Bhutan, Iran, the US and the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Geneva.

An avid writer, Sarna has authored two novels, "The Exile" and "We weren't Lovers Like that" and two books of fiction, "The Book of Nanak" and "Folk Tales of Poland".