India, Israel Advance FTA Talks After Second Round
Negotiations in New Delhi focus on trade, services, investment and economic cooperation; both sides target early conclusion of pactl
- India and Israel concluded the second round of FTA negotiations in New Delhi.
- Talks covered goods, services, customs, intellectual property and trade facilitation.
- Bilateral merchandise trade reached USD 3.93 billion in FY 2025-26.
- Both countries reaffirmed commitment to concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th July: India and Israel have concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both sides making further progress towards a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade pact.
The four-day negotiations were held from July 20 to 23 at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi, where officials discussed all key areas of the proposed agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, economic cooperation and long-term economic partnership.
The negotiations are being conducted under the Terms of Reference (ToR) signed in November 2025, which provides the framework for discussions across various sectors.
According to the government, merchandise trade between India and Israel stood at USD 3.93 billion in FY 2025-26, with both countries identifying significant opportunities to expand trade, investment and economic integration through the proposed agreement.
During the second round, technical experts from both sides held detailed discussions on trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, customs procedures, trade facilitation, economic cooperation and other chapters of the proposed FTA.
India’s Chief Negotiator and Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ajay Bhadoo, reaffirmed India’s commitment to negotiating a balanced and comprehensive agreement that would further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations.
Israel’s Chief Negotiator, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director for Trade Policy and Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner in the Ministry of Economy and Industry, welcomed the progress made since the first round of negotiations and stressed the need to maintain momentum towards achieving an ambitious and mutually beneficial agreement.
Both countries reiterated their commitment to working towards the early conclusion of the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to deepen bilateral trade, promote investment flows and further strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
