India and Israel have wrapped up the second round of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement, with officials from both sides describing the discussions as constructive and forward-looking. The four-day talks, held in New Delhi from July 20 to 23, 2026, covered a wide range of issues including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, customs procedures, and economic cooperation. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that both sides engaged in extensive technical consultations to narrow differences and identify areas of convergence. The negotiations aim to finalize a balanced, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial free trade agreement that would strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and economic ties. In the fiscal year 2025-26, bilateral trade between India and Israel stood at $3.93 billion. India was represented by Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ajay Bhadoo, while Israel was represented by Director Ifat Alon Perel from the Ministry of Economy. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expedite the conclusion of the FTA, building on the framework established by the Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement signed in November 2025.
Article and image source: dinamani.com
