Israel Finance Minister Visit to Gujarat: Gandhinagar, 10 September 2025 – Mr. Bezalel Smotrich, Finance Minister of Israel, along with his delegation, paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar during his first official visit to India. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties, exploring investment opportunities in GIFT City, and learning from India’s financial protocols and UPI system.
During the meeting, Mr. Smotrich highlighted the shared heritage, culture, and technological collaboration between Israel, India, and Gujarat. He expressed a keen interest in leveraging India’s international financial hubs, particularly GIFT City, for future business and investment collaborations.
Focus on GIFT City and Financial Collaboration
Finance Minister Smotrich emphasized the importance of expanding Israel-India financial cooperation, exploring potential investment opportunities, and understanding India’s digital payment systems, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
CM Shri Bhupendra Patel welcomed Israel’s deep interest in GIFT City, stating that a joint team of officials from Gujarat and Israel could be established to explore and advance these investment opportunities.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Counter-Terrorism Cooperation
Both leaders reaffirmed the strong relationship between India and Israel, underpinned by close ties between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Israel. CM Patel highlighted India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and expressed solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism.
He also extended condolences to the citizens affected by recent incidents in Israel and commended the resilience and determination of the Israeli people.
Collaboration in Agriculture and Development Projects
CM Patel highlighted Israel’s expertise in drip irrigation, which has enabled high agricultural yields with minimal water use. The Gujarat government expressed a positive inclination toward collaborating with Israel on drip irrigation and other development projects in the state, aiming to boost efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.
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Remarks by Leaders
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: Praised India’s consistent support for Israel and emphasized shared commitment to combating terrorism. Expressed interest in exploring GIFT City and understanding India’s financial technology landscape.
- CM Shri Bhupendra Patel: Highlighted India’s recognition as a trusted nation globally and the transformation from Swaraj to Surajya under visionary leadership. Emphasized willingness to collaborate with Israel on agricultural and developmental projects.
Attendees of the Meeting
Officials present during the meeting included:
- Shri M. K. Das, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM
- Dr. T. Natarajan, Principal Secretary of Finance Department
- Smt. Avantika Singh, Additional Principal Secretary to the CM
- Smt. Arti Kanwar, Secretary, Finance
- Dr. Vikrant Pandey, Secretary to the CM
Conclusion
The meeting between Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and CM Shri Bhupendra Patel marks a significant step in strengthening India-Israel relations, fostering investment in GIFT City, and exploring collaboration in agriculture and development. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation and shared economic growth, paving the way for deeper strategic and financial partnerships in the future.
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FAQ: Israel Finance Minister Visit to Gujarat
1. Why did Israel Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visit Gujarat?
He visited to explore investment opportunities in GIFT City, understand India’s financial protocols and UPI system, and strengthen bilateral ties between Israel and Gujarat.
2. What is GIFT City?
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is India’s premier financial hub designed to attract global investments and promote international financial services.
3. What areas of collaboration were discussed?
The leaders discussed financial collaboration, investment in GIFT City, agricultural cooperation via drip irrigation, development projects, and counter-terrorism cooperation.
4. How does India support Israel in counter-terrorism?
India maintains a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and has expressed steadfast support for Israel in combating security threats.
5. What future steps were proposed?
A joint team of officials from Gujarat and Israel may be formed to explore investment opportunities, strengthen economic ties, and collaborate on agricultural and development projects.