New Delhi: India on Friday invited greater participation from Israeli defence companies under the new liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) regime in defence manufacturing. This was conveyed during a telephonic conversation between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Israeli counterpart Lieutenant General Benjamin Gantz.
The conversation took place as the Indian Armed Forces are undertaking a series of emergency defence purchases, including from Israel, amid ongoing tensions with China on the border. In May, the government increased the limit for FDI in defence through the automatic route from 49% to 74%.
“Both the Ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress of strategic cooperation between the two countries and discussed possibilities of further strengthening the defence engagements,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. The two Ministers also expressed satisfaction at the ongoing collaboration in research and development in fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Defence Minister of Israel responded positively to an invitation from Mr. Singh to visit India at the earliest opportunity, the statement added.
